Data Sharing Attitudes and Practices in the Plant Sciences: Results from a Mixed Method Study

Data sharing attitudes and practices of the faculty of the plant sciences departments at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities were explored in a mixed method study consisting of an online survey and semi-structured in-depth interviews. Results show the majority of participating faculty responded positively regarding data sharing and practice it in some form. However, several challenges exist, such as the time needed to prepare metadata, long-term storage and preservation, collaboration and communication with fellow researchers, and gaps in coding skill. Librarians are uniquely suited to help researchers face these challenges and support increased data sharing.