DaYta Ya Rona is an institutional research data repository that supports open sharing and dissemination of research data across disciplines. Its primary aim is to provide researchers with a secure, reliable platform to store, share, and manage their data in a way that enhances accessibility and ensures the integrity of their work. By offering a system where datasets can be assigned persistent identifiers (DOIs), DaYta Ya Rona enables data to be citable, fostering proper academic credit and strengthening the recognition and tracking of research contributions. North-West University uses the Figshare platform as its research data repository, allowing its researchers to publish their data.
A growing number of funding agencies, foundations, and journals mandate data sharing, which has many benefits for individual researchers and the research community.
Sharing data:
- Promotes discoveries
- Increases research impact and citation rates
- Supports validation and replication
- Enhances collaboration
- Increases returns from public investment
- Reduces redundant research
Researchers should consider the legal and ethical issues involved in sharing (e.g. do they have consent to share participant data?). Please see more under Research Ethics.
They should also consider the potential for reusability of their data and whether outsiders will be able to understand it. There are some potential drawbacks to sharing. Ensuring data is fit to share may be time-intensive. Others could misuse or misrepresent a dataset. Data released during a project may not have undergone sufficient quality assurance. There may be an overlap of publications if data are released during or immediately following a research project.
