Concerns have been expressed that certain types of research are less likely to lead to information being provided than others. There is a need for 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?
