Planning for Open Data in Qualitative Research: What Study Participants Want Researchers to Know

• Main Authors: GOLDSMITH, Laurie J., LEONG, Li Zi
• Format: text
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2024
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sgor2024/programme/schedule/11; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/sgor2024/article/1011/viewcontent/08_CPHCRI_USE_Data_Sharing_Study_InK3yrsEmbargo_v2.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Open data is becoming common, with funders and journals increasingly requiring researchers make data available to others after the end of a study. While qualitative data have often been fully or partially exempted from data sharing requirements, researchers will face increased expectations to share qualitative data. To help establish best practices in qualitative data sharing, we investigated qualitative research study participants’ perspectives on data sharing and the associated processes. We invited 48 study participants in a qualitative study about how Singaporeans use primary care to a second semi-structured interview about their willingness to have their data shared and their thoughts about processes for managing and sharing qualitative research data. All but one study participants agreed to take part in this interview. Study participants expressed strong support for qualitative data sharing and advised researchers to employ transparent processes, including multiple opportunities for participants to consider and revise their data sharing decision-making.