Open Data in Social Sciences

Growth, Impact, and Equity in Data Paper Publishing

Abstract

The rapid growth of data-driven research has elevated the prominence of data papers as a specialised scholarly publication format, which enhances data accessibility, transparency, and reproducibility in scientific research. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed data papers in social science, examining their growth, scholarly impact, adoption trends, mandates, policies, and funding landscape across the globe. Results show a 36 % annual growth rate (R² = 0.865), with 83 % of data papers published after 2021, driven by open-access mandates, funding agency requirements, digital repositories and growing emphasis on open science. The United States and China dominate publication volume, while Switzerland and the UK lead in citation impact. Despite a weak but significant open-access citation advantage (r = 0.052, p < 0.001), 22.7 % of data papers remain uncited, reflecting a “citation paradox.” Altmetric data highlights societal impact through media mentions (46 %), policy influence (36 %), patents (9 %) and engagement across social media platforms (X, Facebook, etc). Collaboration and funding patterns reveal entrenched Global North-South disparities, with 75 % of publications and 78 % of collaborative strength concentrated in the Global North. Only 42.5 % of journals enforce FAIR principles, and 35 % address CARE compliance, highlighting policy inconsistencies. To advance equitable open science, the study recommends standardised ethical frameworks, equitable funding models, and institutional support for global south scholars. These insights aim to strengthen data-sharing norms, promote research transparency, and foster inclusive collaboration.