LibGuides: Citation justice: A critical look at citation practices: Data justice

Data Justice

Like all forms of information, data are not free of bias - they do not exist independently of technologies, systems, and contexts in which they were given and can be manipulated in ways that reinforce systems of oppression.

The data justice movement is a response to the historical and current methods of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data that erase, misrepresent, or harm marginalized communities. Data justice seeks to redress and prevent further harm to these communities by ensuring their involvement in the design, management, and dissemination of data.

Community-Based Research

For research to be successful in the long-term, it is important to ensure that there are benefits for all individuals and organizations involved. Discuss motivations as a team; honest communication and recognition of differences is more likely to lead to a study design that brings equitable benefits to the partners. Consider whether your partnered research may be an opportunity for skill building and training for community members.

Questions to ask:

What do all partners hope to gain from the collaboration?
How can the research project support these expectations?
- What is the role of the research data in these expectations?
What contributions would each collaborator like to make?
Who will be involved in each aspect of the research project?
- formulating research questions
- designing the study
- collecting data
- completing the analysis
- writing and publication
How will credit will be attributed for research outputs?

Data Citation

“Data citation is the practice of referencing data products used in research. A data citation includes key descriptive information about the data, such as the title, source, and responsible parties.” (USGS)

Why cite data?

establishes proper attribution and credit
increases transparency in research
recognizes research data as an important scholarly output

Components of data citation:

creator(s) or contributor(s)
date of publication
title of dataset
publisher
identifier (e.g. DOI) or URL of source
version
date accessed (as needed)

Resources

Community-Based Research & Data Justice Resource Guide (UBC, 2022)
The primary focus of this guide is to introduce the concept of ‘data justice’ to community organizations that work with data or are looking to work on data-based projects, for them to bring this alongside as a resource to their existing work in this area. In addition, this guide explores dismantling power structures and privilege through definitions, examples, reflexivity, and critical thinking.
Research Data Citation Ethics
The increase in research data-sharing practices has highlighted a growing number of ethical challenges related to the sharing and publication of datasets. In order to support the stakeholders involved in the publication of research data, the FORCE11 Research Data Publishing Ethics Working Group, in collaboration with Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), has developed recommendations toward best practices for handling ethical cases related to the sharing and publication of research data.
Data Governance and Management Toolkit for Self-Governing Indigenous Governments
This Toolkit supports Indigenous Governments’ efforts around data sovereignty, and their ability to use and manage data (including socioeconomic data) to improve life for their peoples, in ways that reflect their cultural traditions. Indigenous peoples have always been stewards of their own knowledge systems. These knowledge systems inform every part of people’s lives, including how to effectively run communities, and to care for people’s health, well-being, and growth.