Justifications for the sharing of social science data.

Abstract

Starting with the premise that voluntary sharing of social science data is a desirable professional behavior, this article discusses a variety of justifications for data sharing. These justifications are found to be grounded in the scientific process itself—in the need for science that is more accurate, more open, more knowledgeable, and has more resources at its disposal. Although it is evident that the costs and benefits of data sharing are now unevenly distributed, and that primary researchers currently bear most of the burden and risks, it is argued that the adoption of a data-sharing norm in the social sciences would go a long way to remedy the imbalance. In this regard, the author supports the 1985 data-sharing recommendations put forth by the Committee on National Statistics.