Sharing qualitative research data may do more harm than good

AI Insight

This article examines the challenges of data sharing in qualitative research, arguing that the potential harms may exceed the benefits in many cases. The authors explore ethical concerns, participant privacy risks, and contextual loss that can occur when qualitative data is shared beyond its original research setting. The paper suggests that mandatory data sharing policies designed for quantitative studies may not be appropriate for qualitative methodologies.

Why it matters

This research has significant implications for research ethics policies and funding requirements that increasingly mandate open data sharing. It highlights the need for discipline-specific data sharing guidelines that protect vulnerable research participants while balancing transparency goals in qualitative fields like anthropology, sociology, and health research.