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. 2017 Dec 27;12(12):e0189288.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189288. eCollection 2017.

Attitudes and norms affecting scientists' data reuse

Renata Gonçalves Curty  1 , Kevin Crowston  2 , Alison Specht  3   4 , Bruce W Grant  5 , Elizabeth D Dalton  6
Affiliations

Attitudes and norms affecting scientists' data reuse

Renata Gonçalves Curty et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The value of sharing scientific research data is widely appreciated, but factors that hinder or prompt the reuse of data remain poorly understood. Using the Theory of Reasoned Action, we test the relationship between the beliefs and attitudes of scientists towards data reuse, and their self-reported data reuse behaviour. To do so, we used existing responses to selected questions from a worldwide survey of scientists developed and administered by the DataONE Usability and Assessment Working Group (thus practicing data reuse ourselves). Results show that the perceived efficacy and efficiency of data reuse are strong predictors of reuse behaviour, and that the perceived importance of data reuse corresponds to greater reuse. Expressed lack of trust in existing data and perceived norms against data reuse were not found to be major impediments for reuse contrary to our expectations. We found that reported use of models and remotely-sensed data was associated with greater reuse. The results suggest that data reuse would be encouraged and normalized by demonstration of its value. We offer some theoretical and practical suggestions that could help to legitimize investment and policies in favor of data sharing.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Factors determining a person’s behaviour using the Theory of Reasoned Action (adapted from [29]).
Fig 2
Fig 2. Research model.
H1a: Perceived efficiency of data reuse will positively correlate with data reuse; H1b: Perceived efficacy of data reuse will positively correlate with data reuse; H2: Concerns about the trustworthiness of data will negatively correlate with data reuse; H3: Perceived norms against data reuse will negatively correlate with data reuse; and H4: Perceived importance of data reuse will positively correlate with data reuse.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Distribution of self-reported data reuse behaviour.
N = 589.
Fig 4
Fig 4. When I need to analyze data to answer a research question, I …(N = 569/ 569/ 570/ 576/ 572/ 557/ 526).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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