Whose data set is it anyway? Sharing raw data from randomized trials.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sharing of raw research data is common in many areas of medical research, genomics being perhaps the most well-known example. In the clinical trial community investigators routinely refuse to share raw data from a randomized trial without giving a reason.

Discussion

Data sharing benefits numerous research-related activities: reproducing analyses; testing secondary hypotheses; developing and evaluating novel statistical methods; teaching; aiding design of future trials; meta-analysis; and, possibly, preventing error, fraud and selective reporting. Clinical trialists, however, sometimes appear overly concerned with being scooped and with misrepresentation of their work. Both possibilities can be avoided with simple measures such as inclusion of the original trialist

SUBMITTER: Vickers AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1489946 | biostudies-literature | 2006 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature