Norwegian Researchers Want to Share Data
but Fear Jeopardising Their Career
Workshop on Research Data Management and Sharing, ERC, 18-19.9.2014
Roar Skålin, The Research Council of Norway
The researchers are stakeholders in
developing a policy for Open Access to data
 Assignment from the Ministry:

Establish and implement a policy for Open Access to
publicly funded research data
 Have received views and input from major
stakeholders:





The Ministry of Education and Research
Universities and university colleges
Research institutes
Health trusts
Governmental organisations
 What are the views of the researchers?
Survey among researchers in Norway
 Carried out by DAMVAD on behalf of the Research Council of
Norway (http://bit.ly/1zQjO9Y)
 Objective: Gain understanding of researchers practices and
position regarding archiving and sharing research data
 Scope: Researchers within research institutes, universities,
university colleges and Health trusts
 Participation:
 Total population: 18,863
 Invites: 6,782
 Responses: 1,474 (30.6 % response rate)
 The answers are statistically representative for the majority
of the sub-populations
Who responded to the survey?
 A large number of invites actively chose not to participate:
Health trusts:
 Research institutes:
 University sector:

16,6 %
14,6 %
6,0 %
 Have only those with a special interest in data responded?
 Have some misunderstood what “data” is?
Gender
Pct.
Female
40.8 %
Less than 3 years
9.5 %
Male
59.2 %
3 - 6 years
23.1 %
7 - 10 years
18.1 %
11 - 20 years
25.6 %
More than 20 years
23.7 %
Source: DAMVAD: Sharing and archiving of
publicly funded research data
Scientific experience
Pct.
Data is available, but upon request
Which of the following applies to the accessibility of most
of your research data?
52%
50%
47%
44%
41%
30%
23%
21%21%
16%
13%
13%
10%10%
Data is available
Humanities
Medical science
15%
11%
7%
13%
8%
12%
10%10%
6%
5%
Data is available for
Data is available upon
Data is not available
researchers
request
Agriculture and fishing
Mathematics and natural science
Social science
Source: DAMVAD: Sharing and archiving of publicly funded research data
Technology
Norwegian researchers are generally
positive towards sharing data
Please indicate if you agree to the following
statements related to open access to
research data:
Agree
Undecided Disagree
Enhance research
80 %
15 %
5%
Stimulate more research collaborations
74 %
19 %
7%
Research-ethical obligation to make data
available
80 %
16 %
5%
Facilitate education of students and new
researchers
77 %
19 %
5%
Publicly funded research data should not be
public property
16 %
31 %
53 %
Source: DAMVAD: Sharing and archiving of publicly funded research data
The researchers are concerned that sharing
data will influence their career negatively
36%
35%
34%
29%
The five main barriers against increased sharing
of data
28%
24%24%
28%
27%27%27%
23%
22%
23%
24%
22%
22%
19% 19%
17%
23%
21%
20%
16%
13%
Making data available
takes away valuable
time for research
Experience
Lack of technical
infrastructure
Less than 3 years
Open access would Concerns connected to Cannot give access due
reduce possibilities of misinterpretation of
to sensitivity issues
scientific publications
data
3 - 6 years
7 - 10 years
Source: DAMVAD: Sharing and archiving of publicly funded research data
11 - 20 years
More than 20 years
The researchers need infrastructures and
guidance in sharing data
The five main measures to facilitate increased sharing of data
41% 42%
43%
41%
41%
39%
35%
29%
28%
23%
22% 21%
22% 22%
18%
Better infrastructure
More training
Univerities and university colleges
Implementation of a
citation system
Research institutes
Source: DAMVAD: Sharing and archiving of publicly funded research data
More resources
Implementation of
guidelines for open
access
Health trusts (hospitals)
Researchers welcome data sharing as a part
of publishing
Do you welcome the trend of making data available
as a part of scientific publications? (Multiple choice)
Yes, it could mean that my research could be more interesting for others
to follow
51 %
Yes, it is a sign that my research can be quality assured
54 %
Yes, it could mean that my data and or my publications will be more
cited
28 %
No, I see no benefit for me
11 %
I do not know
9%
Source: DAMVAD: Sharing and archiving of publicly funded research data
Major findings of the survey
 Norwegian researchers:



Share data and want to share data
Are gatekeepers for their own data
Generally agree on barriers, challenges and positions
towards Open Access to data
 Three main challenges for sharing data:
1.
2.
3.
Preparing takes up valuable time
Lack of infrastructures
Reduce possibilities of future scientific publications
 The measures considered most important:
1.
2.
3.
Better infrastructures
Implement a system for citation
Implement guidelines, training and standards for sharing data
How do we establish sustainable infrastructures
for archiving and sharing research data?
 How to organize infrastructures?
By discipline internationally?
 At universities or national archives?
 Through publishing companies?
 By data owners or independent organizations?

 What mechanism to initiate investments?


Top-down?
Bottom-up?
 How do we ensure financial sustainability?
 How do we ensure global discoverability?
 Should the infrastructures assist the process of sharing?
How do we establish rewards and
incentives?
 We don’t need any

Sharing is the accepted community standard

Employers and funding agencies require archiving and sharing
of data
 We need to encourage data sharing

Require a data management plan (DMP) for the research
projects?

DMPs are evaluated and scored during project review?

Establish standards for citation?

Special incentives for publishing data sets – possibly for a
temporary period?

Embargo periods for data – how long?