Understanding Data Search as a Socio-technical Practice

TL;DR

This paper investigates the socio-technical practices involved in data search, combining bibliometric analysis and interviews to understand user behaviors and improve data discovery system design.

Contribution

It introduces a socio-technical perspective to studying data search practices, emphasizing the importance of understanding user context beyond technological solutions.

Findings

Data search practices are influenced by social and contextual factors.

Current systems often overlook user behavior and context.

A socio-technical approach can enhance data discovery system design.

Abstract

Open research data are heralded as having the potential to increase effectiveness, productivity, and reproducibility in science, but little is known about the actual practices involved in data search. The socio-technical problem of locating data for reuse is often reduced to the technological dimension of designing data search systems. We combine a bibliometric study of the current academic discourse around data search with interviews with data seekers. In this article, we explore how adopting a contextual, socio-technical perspective can help to understand user practices and behavior and ultimately help to improve the design of data discovery systems.