What makes researchers or organisations reuse data produced by others? A new study from the University of Amsterdam reveals that ‘distance’ plays a crucial role—not just physical, but also social and organisational.

Published by the UvA’s Data Science Centre in collaboration with UMC Utrecht and the Open University, the article explores how trust in datasets varies depending on how far the data reuser is from the data creator. This includes not only geographical distance, but also disciplinary gaps, institutional differences, and social network disconnection.

In the article “From data creator to data reuser: distance matters”, the authors argue that data trustworthiness is not only a matter of technical quality but also of context, communication, and relationships.

The findings highlight the importance of strong metadata, clear documentation, and active networks that support collaboration and understanding. Particularly in fields like healthcare and social sciences, bridging distance can be key to turning unused data into impactful research.De studie benadrukt het belang van transparante metadata, duidelijke documentatie en het actief onderhouden van netwerken rond datadelen. Vooral in complexe domeinen zoals de gezondheidszorg en de sociale wetenschappen kan het overbruggen van deze afstanden het verschil maken tussen ongebruikt en waardevol hergebruikt onderzoeksmateriaal.