Qualitative data sharing and synthesis for sustainability science

Steven M. Alexander (), Kristal Jones (), Nathan J. Bennett, Amber Budden, Michael Cox, Mercè Crosas, Edward T. Game, Janis Geary, R. Dean Hardy, Jay T. Johnson, Sebastian Karcher, Nicole Motzer, Jeremy Pittman, Heather Randell, Julie A. Silva, Patricia Pinto da Silva, Carly Strasser, Colleen Strawhacker, Andrew Stuhl and Nic Weber
Additional contact information
Steven M. Alexander: University of Maryland
Kristal Jones: University of Maryland
Nathan J. Bennett: University of British Columbia
Amber Budden: DataONE, University of New Mexico
Michael Cox: Environmental Studies Program, Dartmouth College
Mercè Crosas: Harvard University
Edward T. Game: The Nature Conservancy
Janis Geary: University of Alberta
R. Dean Hardy: University of Maryland
Jay T. Johnson: University of Kansas
Sebastian Karcher: Syracuse University
Nicole Motzer: University of Maryland
Jeremy Pittman: University of Waterloo
Heather Randell: University of Maryland
Julie A. Silva: University of Maryland
Patricia Pinto da Silva: NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Carly Strasser: Collaborative Knowledge Foundation
Colleen Strawhacker: University of Colorado Boulder
Andrew Stuhl: Bucknell University
Nic Weber: University of Washington

Nature Sustainability, 2020, vol. 3, issue 2, 81-88

Abstract: Abstract Socio–environmental synthesis as a research approach contributes to broader sustainability policy and practice by reusing data from disparate disciplines in innovative ways. Synthesizing diverse data sources and types of evidence can help to better conceptualize, investigate and address increasingly complex socio–environmental problems. However, sharing qualitative data for re-use remains uncommon when compared to sharing quantitative data. We argue that qualitative data present untapped opportunities for sustainability science, and discuss practical pathways to facilitate and realize the benefits from sharing and reusing qualitative data. However, these opportunities and benefits are also hindered by practical, ethical and epistemological challenges. To address these challenges and accelerate qualitative data sharing, we outline enabling conditions and suggest actions for researchers, institutions, funders, data repository managers and publishers.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0434-8

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