What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to clarify the concept of research data within open science and propose a new model for understanding it.

April 1, 2026Kagaku tetsugaku0 citationsOpen Access

Philosophizing Data in the Age of Open Science

Key Points

The aim is to clarify the concept of research data within open science and propose a new model for understanding it.
Analyzed institutional definitions of research data from multiple perspectives.
Explored philosophical insights from the philosophy of science and information.
Introduced a compositional model with attributes to visualize structural assumptions.
Identified variance in institutional definitions of research data.
Proposed a model that clarifies how attributes relate to research data.
Demonstrated how philosophical tools can enhance policy-making for data governance.

Abstract

This paper proposes a philosophical reconstruction of the concept of “research data” in the context of Open Science. While institutional definitions vary widely and lack conceptual clarity, this study draws on insights from the philosophy of science and information to analyze three major perspectives—representational, relational, and diaphoric. Based on the latter, it introduces a compositional model that layers optional attributes (e.g., factive, retrievable, machine-readable) upon minimal differences. This model visualizes the structural assumptions behind institutional policies and serves as a bridge between conceptual analysis and data governance. It also clarifies how philosophical tools can inform and improve research data policies.

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