Break down barriers to research data sharing: focus group participants wanted.
We are looking for researchers willing to share their experiences of sharing research data, or why they have not yet done so, to take part in an in person focus group. For those unable to take part in a focus group we can undertake interviews. Your insights will help create guidance and case studies which will help your organisations and the wider research community reduce barriers to data sharing.
This Wellcome funded project (Driving good practice in data sharing and use of data availability statements to support funder requirements) aims to understand and break down some of the perceived barriers to making research data publicly available. The intention is to improve data findability by increasing the number of research outputs with a meaningful data availability statement (DAS). We would like to investigate the reasons why researchers do or don’t share low-risk research data (data which could be shared openly without needing to restrict or control access and re-use) and how they communicate data availability in research outputs.
Open to anyone undertaking research at Glasgow, St Andrews, or Edinburgh which involves low-risk data (data which could be shared openly without needing to restrict or control access and re-use).
What’s involved?
In person focus group at your university (up to 90 minutes) or one-to-one interview (up to 30 minutes, in person or online)
Focus groups dates:
University of St Andrews 2nd April 2026.
To find out more and express your interest contact Project Analyst Mel Ruth Oakley [email protected]
UTREC approval code EA23802