What does "data sharing" in research refer to?

Data sharing in research refers to the practice of making data available to other researchers. This practice promotes collaboration, enables verification of results, and can lead to new insights by allowing other researchers to analyze the data from different perspectives. By sharing data, researchers contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their field and facilitate the reproducibility of research findings.

The importance of data sharing lies in its capacity to enhance transparency in the research process and promote scientific integrity. When researchers share their data, they provide others with the opportunity to validate their findings, which is a critical aspect of the scientific method. Furthermore, open data can stimulate further research and innovation as others can build on the original work.

Other options capture different aspects of research activities but do not accurately define data sharing. Summarizing research findings is related to disseminating the outcomes of research but does not involve making the underlying data accessible. Submitting research proposals for funding pertains to the funding process rather than to data management or sharing. Restricting data access to authorized personnel may relate to data security and privacy concerns, which could oppose the concept of data sharing that promotes openness.