The Value and Impact of Data Sharing and Curation
Executive summary
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Although a number of studies have looked at methods for determining cost-benefit and broad indicators of value for research data sharing, there remain significant challenges. Only a relatively small number of socio-economic studies have focused specifically on the impact of research data sharing, or research data infrastructure. Moreover, their results have largely concentrated on qualitative indicators rather than quantification of value in economic terms.
This synthesis aims to summarise and reflect on the combined fin
dings from a recent series of independent investigations, produced by the same authors, into the value and impact of three well established UK research data centres or services. Its intended audiences are those interested in a brief overview of the key findings and lessons from the series as a whole. It provides a summary of the key findings and reflects on:
– The methods that can be used to collect data for such studies (Section 2.1);
– The analytical methods that can be used to explore value, impacts and benefits (Section 2.2);
– The measurable value, impacts and benefits of the research data centres and the research data curation and sharing that they support (Section 3); and
– The lessons learnt (Section 4) and recommendations arising (Section 5) from the series of studies as a whole.
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Overall, the three studies show the benefits of integrating a range of quantitative economic approaches to measuring the value and impacts of research data archiving and sharing, with qualitative approaches exploring user perceptions and wider dimensions of value.
An important aim of each study has been to contribute to the further development of impact evaluation methods that can provide estimates of the value and benefits of research data sharing and curation infrastructure investments. This involved the use of a number of methods that we developed in the light of experience over the course of the series of studies. In this synthesis, we reflect on accumulated lessons learnt and provide a set of recommendations that could help develop future studies of this type.
The quantitative economic analysis indicates that:
– The value to users exceeds the investment made in data sharing and curation via the centres in all three cases – with the benefits from 2.2 to 2.7 times the costs;
– Very significant increases in work efficiency are realised by users as a result of their use of the data centres – with efficiency gains from 2 to 20 times the costs; and
– By facilitating additional use, the data centres significantly increase the returns on investment in the creation/collection of the data hosted – with increases in returns from 2 to 12 times the costs.
The qualitative analysis indicates that:
– Academic users report that the centres are very or extremely important for their research, with between 53% and 61% of respondents across the three surveys reporting that it would have a major or severe impact on their work if they could not access the data and services; and
– For depositors, having the data preserved for the long-term and its dissemination being targeted to the academic community are seen as the most beneficial aspects of depositing data with the centres.
