Sharing, Combining, and Archiving Qualitative Data: The Current State of Science and Questions about Ethics, Feasibility, and Analysis Strategies

Background:While the practice of sharing quantitative data is widely accepted in the social sciences, there has been considerable criticism of such practice among qualitative researchers. Qualitative data sharing may include merging data from multiple studies for a subsequent analysis or studies involving secondary data analysis, however these methodologies in qualitative research raise questions regarding ethics, feasibility, and rigor. Given the controversies regarding such research practices, more should be known about the ways that scholars have and can share qualitative data.

Methods: This paper presents a systematic review of health and social science research where scholars combined qualitative data from separate studies for a joint analysis and/or conducted secondary data analysis of qualitative data. Studies published in peer-reviewed journal articles during the last 20 years (1996-2016) were reviewed. Articles were identified through a systematic search of databases common to social work researchers, including Pubmed, Social Services Abstracts, Social Work Abstracts, PsychINFO, and Expanded Academic ASAP. The research team also reviewed article abstracts (2005-16) of the seven qualitative journals with impact factors. Selected studies were reviewed and assessed for context, methodology, and results.

Results: The paper will highlight the methods that researchers have undergone to share and conduct secondary data analysis of qualitative data as well as the context under which such studies were conducted. Special attention will be given to identify innovation and challenges of the studies.

Implications: The authors will present the potential benefits and challenges of sharing qualitative data among researchers. Given the extensive benefit to science that this practice has resulted in within the quantitative research arena, there is much to gain from doing so. However, overcoming identified challenges to methodological rigor, analysis, and ethics need to be addressed. The authors will discuss the role that social work researchers and larger institutions, such as institutions of higher educuation, research centers and collaborative, and federal entities (e.g. NIH) may play in advancing the use of qualitative data while also maintaining rigor and ethical standards.