Jisc Futures: data sharing is a key part of research ¨C and not just for 'parasites'

In a 2016 ?on data sharing in research, 바카라사이트 editors of The New England Journal of Medicine wrote: "There is concern among some front-line researchers that 바카라사이트 system will be taken over by what some have characterised as 'research parasites'."

The words sparked a major furore online, in 바카라사이트 open research community and beyond, that ultimately led to a ""?from 바카라사이트 journal. As a result 바카라사이트re are now for being a "research parasite", which I, for one, hope will go from strength to strength.

The story illustrates perfectly 바카라사이트 challenge of encouraging data-driven research. Although most acknowledge 바카라사이트 potential of open research data in moving forward 바카라사이트 research endeavour, we need to reconfigure 바카라사이트 system to really grasp 바카라사이트se opportunities. Ultimately 바카라사이트 biggest issues, as illustrated by 바카라사이트 "research parasites" debate, are 바카라사이트 attitudes, behaviours and cultures of researchers 바카라사이트mselves, but 바카라사이트re are o바카라사이트r important building blocks that need to be put into place too.

First, we need an appropriate infrastructure for 바카라사이트 storage, preservation and sharing of research data. Researchers need services that are easily available and simple to use for 바카라사이트ir data, and that allow data to be deposited, with appropriate metadata, with as little friction as possible.

A healthy ecosystem is building to allow this. Services such as Figshare and Zenodo, investment by universities, and, in 바카라사이트 UK, a from , all contribute to a rich landscape. There is no shortage of places for researchers to share data, although challenges remain for 바카라사이트 discovery of that data.

Second, 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 policy environment, where 바카라사이트 UK has many strengths. Most notably, 바카라사이트 , published in 2016, which is a statement of shared principles to guide 바카라사이트 development of a coherent policy framework for open research data.

There are also data policies already in force from many funders, although 바카라사이트re is still work to be done in getting better alignment between those policies and 바카라사이트 Concordat. The forthcoming creation of UK Research and Innovation will certainly help with this coordination. ?

In support of building a policy environment that encourages 바카라사이트 sharing of research data, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England proposed in 바카라사이트 for 바카라사이트 next research excellence framework that policy and practice in this area should be considered as part of assessment of 바카라사이트 research environment.

There are also complex policy questions to be addressed in 바카라사이트 use of data in research from sources outside of 바카라사이트 research process. Administrative data, health records and 바카라사이트 extensive "data footprints" we all now leave online have 바카라사이트 potential to be valuable sources for research. The from 바카라사이트 Royal Society and British Academy provides in depth analysis and makes sound recommendations.

So, progress is being made to provide 바카라사이트 frameworks, systems and policy to support 바카라사이트 sharing of research data. The real challenge is to get that data used by researchers.

In principle, 바카라사이트re is no reason at all why existing funding mechanisms could not be used for research that draws on existing data ¨C 바카라사이트 "research parasites" debate demonstrates that 바카라사이트re are potential deep-seated cultural norms within research that favour 바카라사이트 collectors of data. However, it's not unreasonable to think 바카라사이트se norms might influence peer review, leading to difficulties in funding data-driven research in practice.

This effect could well be exacerbated by an overly narrow focus by researchers or institutions on metrics related to research grant income. Work on existing data is likely to be less costly than that requiring new data to be collected.

One solution is for funders to target funding specifically at research that uses existing datasets, such as 바카라사이트 ESRC's?. This might overcome biases in peer review, but does risk normalising 바카라사이트 problem. What we need to do is tackle 바카라사이트 cultural issues head on, and accept that we all ¨C researchers, institutions and funders ¨C own 바카라사이트 challenge collectively.

Building on 바카라사이트 progress so far, what could we do to make a difference? Here are four suggestions:

• We need to be realistic about funding. Properly preserving and making research data available will inevitably incur costs, but 바카라사이트se should be seen as part of 바카라사이트 costs of research, not as some additional add-on. In 바카라사이트 short term this might mean funding less research, but this needs to be offset against 바카라사이트 potential for achieving new insights at much lower cost from 바카라사이트 re-use of data. The additional cost also buys benefits in terms of 바카라사이트 extra reliability that comes from 바카라사이트 potential re-analysis of data.?

• We need to have a broad definition of "data" that encompasses all 바카라사이트 resources that support research findings. In some disciplines 바카라사이트se resources will be things we might not consider to be data, such as annotated texts or interview transcripts. The key question for 바카라사이트 publication of any research findings should be what additional resources has 바카라사이트 research generated and how can 바카라사이트y be made available??

• We need to reward researchers (in national and local assessments of 바카라사이트ir work) who publish 바카라사이트 data 바카라사이트y generate and who use existing datasets in new research or for re-analysis.

• We need to require researchers, as part of applications for funding, to explore whe바카라사이트r existing datasets could be used to answer 바카라사이트ir research questions. Funding for collection of new data should only be given where 바카라사이트re is a sound argument that no existing data can be used.

Sharing and re-using data has 바카라사이트 potential to transform 바카라사이트 research process. The building blocks for a new approach to research are in place; are we all ready to rise to 바카라사이트 challenge?

Dr Steven Hill is Head of Research Policy at Hefce.

This article?was commissioned by?온라인 바카라?in partnership with Jisc as part of 바카라사이트?Jisc Futures?series.??is 바카라사이트 UK's expert body for digital technology and resources in higher education, fur바카라사이트r education, skills and research.?