Citation rates are higher when data are publicly shared, study finds.
Scientists who share their data get a boost in citations, says a study (H. A. Piwowar and T. J. Vision PeerJ 1, e175; 2013). The authors examined citations of 10,555 papers on gene expression published between 2000 and 2009. Those for which the data were freely available received 9% more citations than those with restricted data. Reuse and citations of the open data continued to rise for six years after publication. Co-author Heather Piwowar, co-founder of open-metrics service ImpactStory in Carrboro, North Carolina, says that early-career researchers have good reason to share their data: “It will increase the impact of their research and that's good for their citation statistics and visibility.” Piwowar recommends that researchers store their data in well-known, easily accessible repositories.
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Open data get more use. Nature 502, 399 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nj7471-399b
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nj7471-399b