A collaboration between Digital Science, Figshare and Springer Nature
Since the publication of our main 2023 whitepaper, we have published two follow-up reports that each aim to provide additional perspective to The State of Open Data survey results.
The first, From theory to practice, collates a selection of case studies that offer real-life perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of sharing research data openly.
The second, The global lens, takes a closer look at survey responses from three different countries, Ethiopia, Japan and the United States. This report aims to uncover the “why” behind various countries’ perspectives on open data.
The state of Open Data 2023 report
The State of Open Data 2023 deliberately takes a more analytical approach to the survey data than in previous years. With more data surfaced, the 2023 report provides unique and unparalleled insights into researchers’ attitudes towards and interactions with open data and data sharing.
The report digs into the survey responses and looks at differing trends when comparing respondents’ geographies and other demographic factors. Using these insights, we take a look towards the future and offer some recommendations to the academic community.
Highlights
- Support is not making its way to those who need it
Over three-quarters of respondents had never received support with making their data openly available. - One size does not fit all
Variations in responses from different subject expertise and geographies highlight a need for a more nuanced approach to research data management support globally. - Challenging stereotypes
Are later career academics really opposed to progress? The results of the 2023 survey indicate that career stage is not a significant factor in open data awareness or support levels. - Credit is an ongoing issue
For eight years running, our survey has revealed a recurring concern among researchers: the perception that they don’t receive sufficient recognition for openly sharing their data. - AI awareness hasn’t translated to action
For the first time, this year we asked survey respondents to indicate if they were using ChatGPT or similar AI tools for data collection, processing and metadata collection.
From theory to practice
This new supplementary report offers real-life perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of sharing research data openly, giving us unique viewpoints as told by members of our research community – industry, funders, academic institutions, and publisher
For the first time in the history of The State of Open Data comes a supplementary report that expands upon the results of our years of surveys. From theory to practice offers real-life perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of sharing research data openly, giving us unique viewpoints as told by members of our research community – industry, funders, academic institutions, and publishers.
By sharing their case studies, the authors of this report enhance the experience of The State of Open Data 2023’s key findings and recommendations. Here we see how some of those recommendations are being put into practice, and the effort being made to ensure open research has a robust, meaningful, sustainable, and impactful future.
The State of Open Data 2023 deliberately took a more analytical approach to the survey data than in previous years. From theory to practice provides essential context that any member of the research community might recognize, and wish to learn from and emulate.
Summary
- The NIH Generalist Repository Ecosystem Initiative: meeting community needs for FAIR data sharing and discovery
- Operationalise data policies through collaborative approaches – the momentum is now
- One size does not fit all: an investigation into how institutional libraries are tailoring support to their researchers’ needs
- How Open Pharma supports responsible data sharing for pharma research publications
The global lens
In an effort to emphasise the depth of the data that is made openly available by The State of Open Data survey, we are delighted to release a re-analysis by undergraduates at Kings College London: The Global Lens: Highlighting national nuances in researchers attitudes to open data.
As the title alludes to, this report takes a deep dive into the differences in responses from researchers based in different countries. The report focuses on Ethiopia, Japan and the United States to demonstrate that global trends don’t always align with national trends.
