Research data sharing among doctoral students in Kerala

Abstract

Academic research produces huge amount of data, but once the research is completed, the datasets are often discarded or lost. Sharing research data has numerous benefits. Data sharing improves transparency, fosters research collaboration and support new discoveries. It also save time, effort, and financial resources. Various national and international bodies have formulated research data management and sharing policies. Academic institutions in Kerala lacks such data sharing practices and policies for research data management. There is a need for policy measures and strategies for establishing research data repositories and motivating research data management. The study aims to investigate the current research data handling practices and identify factors influencing research data sharing among doctoral students in Kerala. The study also explores the attitudes of the doctoral students towards sharing and proposes policy measures for implementing research data management culture. The study is theoretically based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour of Icek Ajzen and the Institutional Theory of W Richard Scott. A statewide survey is used to collect data from 597 doctoral students from various universities in Kerala. To gain an in-depth understanding of the institutional factors, semi structured interview with 20 research supervisors were also conducted. The study supports data sharing and recognises it as a means to enhance transparency and integrity in research. The study also finds that data quality and verification remain weak due to the absence of formal mechanisms. Research is often viewed as a requirement for degree completion rather than a scholarly output. The research culture is individual-centred, with reluctance for open discussion and limited collaboration. Career ambitions and the publication pressures affect research priorities and data quality. Ethical concerns, including fears of data misuse and plagiarism, reduce trust and discourages openness. The findings highlight the need for institutional research data repositories, proper infrastructure, clear data sharing policies and trained supporting staff. The study recognises the role of academic libraries in research data management. The study has proposed policy measures for implementing research data sharing culture in Kerala.