The reuse of research data within the lifecycle of scientific studies enables the verification and contextualization of previous results, the conduct of further analyses using existing data, the review of prior research, and the use of data for teaching purposes.
Where can I find relevant data in my research field?
- re3data.org provides a directory of data repositories. To find suitable repositories, first select your discipline to view a tailored list. The interdisciplinary repository Zenodo can also be found here and used to search for appropriate datasets.
- Data portals and index services enable searches across multiple repositories:
- Search for registered datasets: DataCite
- Open Data Portal of the European Union: European Union Open Data Porta
- Google Dataset Search: https://datasetsearch.research.google.com/
What should I consider when reusing data?
When reusing data, you should take into account possible copyright restrictions. Ideally, the data you wish to use are licensed under a Creative Commons license, which ensures legally compliant reuse. However, the legal situation is often unclear. In such cases, it is advisable to carefully review the legal framework and, if necessary, contact the rights holders or data creators to avoid legal risks.
How should I cite data?
In principle, data should be cited in a similar way to a book.
- Minimum information: Creator/Autor/in (Publikationsjahr): Titel. Publisher. Identifier.
- Optimal information: Creator/Autor/in (Publikationsjahr): Titel. Version. Publisher. Resource type. Identifier. Access date.
Example (APA 7th edition)
Zwally, H. J., Schutz, R., Bentley, C., Bufton, J., Herring, T., Minster, J., Spinhirne, J., & Thomas, R. (2003). GLAS/ICESat L1A Global Altimetry Data V018, 15 October to 18 November 2003. National Snow and Ice Data Center. Data set accessed 2011-07-21 at https://doi.org/10.3334/NSIDC/gla01.