In the light of current concern about scientific integrity, scrutiny of scientific practices that are thought to insure integrity takes on special importance. This is the starting point for examining data sharing practices in different scientific fields. But other values motivate inquiry as well: an interest in maximum use of data and efficient use of federal funding. At the same time, little is known about data sharing practices and their relative merits. This research project addresses all of these concerns and will begin to answer questions about (1) what are the current practices; (2) what are the outcomes of data sharing practices; and (3) what factors facilitate or impede sharing. Using a sample of completed NSF research grants in the biological and social sciences, the investigators will develop fifty case studies based on document review, content analysis, and semi-structured interviews. Alert to the great variety of forms that data can assume, the researchers will select projects completed since 1983 so as to gain information about the outcomes of NSF's own policies and directives. The picture of current practices which is the intended product of this research will be used to devise a research plan for large-scale quantitative research on data sharing practices and outcomes. The project will include development and pre-testing of instruments for collecting data in a large-scale study. This proposal is a reasonable request for support to enable highly qualified scholars to address issues about integrity in research and efficient use of data by an examination of data sharing practices. The research plan is well designed to produce empirical findings relevant to research ethics and useful for assessing NSF policies and for devising a large-scale, quantitative study. Institutional support is very good. The findings are likely to reach well-targeted audiences. Support is highly recommended.
