Sharing experiences

Data sharing isn’t always straightforward. Complex issues can arise that need careful thought and good judgment. To illustrate how archiving decisions are made in real-world projects, we’ve compiled examples from researchers and organisations who describe their approaches to preparing and sharing data responsibly.

Thank you to the researchers and organisations who shared their experiences and ensured data are made available for future reuse:

• HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP): Repurposing inspection data for research: the HMIP survey journey.
• Sarah Nettleton: Being a Doctor: a Sociological Analysis, 2005-2006.
• The Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS): NHS administrative data linked to national longitudinal cohort studies.
• Understanding Society: Rapid data sharing during a pandemic – COVID-19 study.
• Dr Lisa Calderwood: Assigning the appropriate level of protection to longitudinal survey data – Next Steps.
• Sheila Henderson et al: Inventing Adulthoods: the Showcase Archive.
• Jane Seymour: Consent for data sharing in sensitive qualitative research: burden or benefit?
• Jane Elliott: Depositing the Social Participation and Identity Sub-Sample, 2007-2010.
• Maggie Mort: Health and Social Consequences of the Foot and Mouth Disease Epidemic in North Cumbria.
• Karon Gush: Understanding Couples’ Experiences of Job Loss in Recessionary Britain.
• Bethany Morgan-Brett: Negotiating Midlife: Exploring the Subjective Experience of Ageing, 2006-2008.
• Pat Caplan: Concepts of Healthy Eating Food Research: Phases I and II.

We run a programme of regular training workshops covering key areas of preparing and sharing research data, complemented by asynchronous resources on our Research Data Management learning hub.