Access to data – the issue
by LERSnet admin ~ May 22, 2008
Concerns have been expressed that certain types of research are less likely to lead to information being provided than others. There is a need or government agencies to see it as part of their public accountability responsibilities to facilitate the provision of information to bona fide researchers.
Good data sets are important in promoting and supporting high quality empirical research. A range of views have been expressed as to the adequacy and utility of existing data, but at the very least, perhaps
there needs to be an improvement in the co-ordination and information-sharing about available data sets. There is also the potential to encourage or facilitate access to existing sources and/or build on
existing surveys rather than ‘reinventing the wheel’.
What is the current experience of gaining access to data and how could this be improved? What practical barriers prevent researchers gaining access to the data they need and what are the implications of this?
vmunro Says:
May 29th, 2008 at 2:50 pmThere is little doubt that it can be difficult to obtain some forms of data from government agencies. The problem is that the data in question often relates to precisely the kind of topical issues that are ripe for research. In any empirical project, large amounts of research time are usually spent chasing up gatekeepers, securing formal access permissions, and then pursuing that access even once permission has been granted. One of the questions this surely gives rise to is – what more can be done in order to build sustainable relationships of trust between academics and governmental agencies?
marie selwood Says:
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:09 pmIs there not also an issue that data collected by private companies/consultants does not often get published because they view themselves as merely carrying out a contract and reporting to the government agency/organisation that has funded them, rather than as adding to the body of knowledge available to the wider research community?