Abstract: Sharing research data is complex, labor-intensive, expensive, and requires infrastructure investments by multiple stakeholders. Open science policies focus on data release, yet reuse is also difficult and may never occur. Investments in data management could be made more wisely by considering who might reuse data, how, why, for what purposes, and when. Drawing upon empirical studies of data sharing and reuse, we develop the theoretical construct of distance between data creator and data reuser, identifying six distance dimensions that influence the ability to transfer knowledge effectively: domain, methods, collaboration, curation, purposes, and time and temporality. These dimensions are primarily social in character, with associated technical aspects that can decrease – or increase – distances between creators and reusers. We identify ways that data creators, data reusers, data archivists, and funding agencies can make data sharing and reuse more effective. This talk is based on joint work with Paul Groth of the University of Amsterdam. Borgman, C. L., & Groth, P. T. (2024). From Data Creator to Data Reuser: Distance Matters (arXiv:2402.07926). arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2402.07926
Bio: Christine L. Borgman conducts research in scientific data practices and information policy. Her publications in information studies, computer science, communication, and law include three award-winning books from MIT Press and more than 250 journal articles, conference papers, and other scholarly products. A Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Association for Computing Machinery, she has held visiting posts at Oxford, Harvard, and several European institutions. Professor Borgman is a member of the Library of Congress Scholars Council and the Board of Directors of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Her honors and awards include the Paul Evan Peters Award from the Coalition for Networked Information, Association for Research Libraries, and EDUCAUSE; Award of Merit and the Research in Information Science Award, both from the Association for Information Science and Technology; and a Legacy Laureate of the University of Pittsburgh.
