A study of the impact of data sharing on article citations using journal policies as a natural experiment

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225883
• Publication Date: 2019-12-18T13:29:48Z
• Authors: Garret Christensen; Allan Dafoe; Edward Miguel; Don A. Moore; Andrew K. Rose
• Keywords: Natural experiment; Data Sharing; Citation impact; Ask price; Science Policy

This study estimates the effect of data sharing on citations academic articles, using journal policies as a natural experiment. We begin by examining 17 high-impact journals that have adopted requirement from published articles be publicly posted. match these to 13 without policy changes and find empirical just before their change in editorial citation rates with no statistically significant difference those shortly after shift. then ask whether this null result stems poor compliance policies, use instrumental variables examine more closely two leading economics political science relatively strong enforcement new policies. make available receive 97 additional (estimate standard error 34). conclude that: a) authors who share may rewarded eventually scholarly citations, b) data-posting alone do not increase impact unless are enforced.