New Knowledge from Old Data

The Role of Standards in the Sharing and Reuse of Ecological Data

Bibliographic Data

ID5186648
AuthorsAnn S Zimmerman (University of Michigan), Ann Zimmerman (0000-0003-4707-9855, University of Michigan, corresponding author)
Year2008
Volume33
Issue5
Pages631-652
Publication date2008-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScience Technology & Human Values (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0162-2439 • E-ISSN: 1552-8251
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0162243907306704
OpenAlexW2164158888
LanguageEN
Citations received56
References cited33

This article analyzes the experiences of ecologists who used data they did not collect themselves. Specifically, the author examines the processes by which ecologists understand and assess the quality of the data they reuse, and investigates the role that standard methods of data collection play in these processes. Standardization is one means by which scientific knowledge is transported from local to public spheres. While standards can be helpful, the results show that knowledge of the local context is critical to ecologists' reuse of data. Yet, this information is often left behind as data move from the private to the public world. The knowledge that ecologists acquire through fieldwork enables them to recover the local details that are so critical to their comprehension of data collected by others. Social processes also play a role in ecologists' efforts to judge the quality of data they reuse

Business · Data collection · Data quality · Data science · Engineering ethics · Epistemology · Geography · Knowledge management · Management science · Reuse · Social science · Sociology · Standardization · Computer Science · Data Analysis and Archiving · Engineering · Research Data Management Practices · Scientific Computing and Data Management

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