The benefits of making research data available for reuse are recognised by many. While some datasets can be openly available, others contain sensitive or personal data limiting the reuse to certain conditions. Many repositories, including the DANS Data Stations, provide options to publish datasets under restricted access: before a user can access the data, they have to submit a request that the data owner evaluates. Repositories may also apply additional conditions such as the use of a secure environment for analysis.
While there is often a willingness to facilitate reuse and the potential of reuse of sensitive data is widely recognised, information about the access procedures and requirements for sensitive data are often not included in the data descriptions. It can be difficult for a user to assess whether they are eligible for data reuse and what is required of them.
The requirements data owners apply vary and may include requests for motivations, or limitations on the purpose of reuse. Some data owners also limit the reuse to particular institutions. Standardised ways of describing the requirements and process for data access are currently lacking.
This is why ODISSEI and DANS are launching this survey. We want to contribute to greater transparency around data access conditions and improve the experience of researchers who reuse data. With this survey aim to gain knowledge of common practices to better understand and describe data access restrictions. The anonymous survey results will contribute to a report and a checklist outlining the most applied data access restrictions and we hope to distill best practices. They will also guide DANS in the ongoing development of our new ‘Guidebook for Depositing Restricted in the DANS Data Stations’.
We would really appreciate your input. Fill out the survey by 30 June 2024, or contact Ricarda Braukmann and Deborah Thorpe for more information. Click here to get in touch by email.
