Mobile researchers, immobile data: Managing data (producers)

Area of Science:

• Information Science
• Sociology of Science

Background:

• Formalized research data management (RDM) strategies are increasingly adopted by scientific institutions.
• Guidelines like the FAIR principles aim to enhance transparency and reproducibility through data sharing.
• Open Science initiatives aim for public data release for broad reuse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the actual practices and motivations behind scientists' data release.
• To explore the reinterpretation of RDM principles in the context of scientific mobility.
• To understand the dissociation between stated epistemic goals of Open Science and actual implementation.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with Austrian scientists.
• Analysis of scientists' reinterpretation of RDM features (e.g., findability).
• Examination of data release practices described as 'data handovers'.

Main Results:

• Scientists' data release practices are often pragmatic 'data handovers' driven by research continuity needs.
• RDM features are reinterpreted as tools to manage researcher mobility.
• Adoption of Open Science practices may be disconnected from their epistemic goals.

Conclusions:

• The adoption of Open Science practices may not align with their intended goals of transparency and reuse.
• Administrative strength of Open Science initiatives does not guarantee normative alignment.
• Understanding scientists' practical motivations is crucial for effective RDM and Open Science implementation.