Benefits of data sharing and reuse
The impact of sharing and preserving data
Effective data management supports the organisation, preservation and sharing of data in ways that make them usable beyond the original research project.
Well-managed data help to:
- Maximise opportunities for future research and innovation.
- Improve the quality, reliability and transparency of research outputs.
- Reduce the risk of data loss, misuse or misinterpretation.
- Support compliance with legal, ethical and funder requirements.
- Increase the visibility and impact of research.
Effective research data management enables both original data creators and secondary researchers to understand, interpret and reuse data appropriately, helping to extend the value of research over time.
Experiences of responsible data sharing
Many data producers have shared their experiences of preparing and depositing data. These examples show some of the practical challenges and benefits of sharing data in real research projects.
Balancing participant privacy with sharing qualitative data
The Inventing Adulthoods study was a qualitative longitudinal study of young people growing up in England and Northern Ireland. The research team wanted to archive the data so that other researchers could use it, but they needed to ensure that this did not compromise participants’ privacy and trust.
One of the biggest challenges was developing a system for anonymising interview transcripts that maintained the richness and detail of participants’ stories while protecting confidentiality. The team also had to manage issues such as selecting cases, ensuring participants understood data sharing, and documenting the data properly.
Key takeaway: Anonymisation and consent planning are essential when preparing qualitative data for sharing.
Preparing administrative data for research reuse
The HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) project involved preparing over 100,000 prisoner surveys originally collected for inspection purposes so they could be shared for research. The data had not originally been collected for research use, so the team had to restructure the data, remove or transform potentially identifiable information, and create clear documentation so that other researchers could use the data appropriately.
The project required collaboration and negotiation between the secondary researchers, the original data owner and the data archive, and careful attention to ethical and legal requirements when working with sensitive data.
Key takeaway: Data collected for operational or administrative purposes can often be prepared for research reuse, but this requires negotiation and compromise, documentation, restructuring and careful management of sensitive information.