1. A R M I N G Ü N T H E R
E R I C H W E I C H S E L G A R T N E R
L E I B N I Z I N S T I T U T E F O R
P S Y C H O L O G Y I N F O R M A T I O N ( Z P I D )
T R I E R , G E R M A N Y
3 0 t h I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n g r e s s o f P s y c h o l o g y
C a p e T o w n , 2 6 . J u l y 2 0 1 2
Sharing research data in psychology:
Resistance, benefits and initiatives

2. Günther/Weichselgartner, Leibniz Insitute for Psychology Information, Trier, Germany
Data Sharing:
Past, Present…
 “It is becoming increasingly
important for psychologists to
archive their research data so
that it can be reexamined and
reanalyzed by others. […]
Nevertheless, it is often difficult
or impossible to obtain research
data.”
Bryant, F. B. & Wortman, P. M. (1978). Secondary analysis. The case for data archives.
American Psychologist, 33, 381-387.

3. Günther/Weichselgartner, Leibniz Insitute for Psychology Information, Trier, Germany
 Reasons for preservation of
research data
 It will stimulate the advancement of
science (new research can build on
existing knowledge)
From: PARSE.Insight 2009, p 24.
n = 1213 researchers, multiple disciplines
Data Sharing:
Past, Present…

4. Günther/Weichselgartner, Leibniz Insitute for Psychology Information, Trier, Germany
 Requests for data from APA
authors (success rates)
 1962: 24% (9/37)
Wolins, L (1962). Responsibility for raw data. American Psychologist, 17, 657-658.
 2005: 27% (38/141)
Wicherts, J. M., Borsboom, D., Kats, J. & Molenaar, D. (2006). The poor availability of
psychological research data for reanalysis. American Psychologist, 61, 726-728.
Data Sharing:
Past, Present…

5. Günther/Weichselgartner, Leibniz Insitute for Psychology Information, Trier, Germany
 Validity of research findings
 New findings from existing data
 Meta-analyses and aggregation
 Avoiding expensive duplications
 Preserving unique data
 (and many more)
 Transparency and openness
Benefits of
Data Sharing

6. Günther/Weichselgartner, Leibniz Insitute for Psychology Information, Trier, Germany
 No incentives
 But costs:
 labor, time, money
 competitive disadvantages
 misuse of data
 impairment of reputation
 Legal barriers
 Commercial interests in data
 (and more)
Resistance to
Data Sharing

7. Günther/Weichselgartner, Leibniz Insitute for Psychology Information, Trier, Germany
P s y c h D a t a
Research Data Center
for Psychology
Data sets (examples):
Initiatives:
PsychData

8. Günther/Weichselgartner, Leibniz Insitute for Psychology Information, Trier, Germany
Initiatives:
PsychData
Data
Documentation:
• Variable-level
• Study-level
Archiving + Publishing (metadata)
Data
Contract: Data creator/PsychData
Contract: Data user/PsychData

9. Günther/Weichselgartner, Leibniz Insitute for Psychology Information, Trier, Germany
 Data related characteristics
 Keep data available/understandable
 Large/varying groups of researchers
 Data driven design
 Expensive data collection
 (and more)
Initiatives:
Longitudinal
Studies

10. Günther/Weichselgartner, Leibniz Insitute for Psychology Information, Trier, Germany
Openness
as a principle of modern research ethics
Information Technologie
Infrastructures, Paradigms, Standards
Data Preservation and Sharing
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Summary