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Abstract
Sharing and reusing data is an important aspect of research in the United States. When done well, it has the potential to improve research by reducing duplicate data collection, improving statistical analysis techniques and software implementation through low- or no-cost opportunities, and increasing researchers’ incentive to minimize errors by encouraging no-cost replication of analyses. Sharing data also allows students and trainees the opportunity to pursue research that would not be otherwise feasible. However, sharing data that was not intended for research purposes is a complex undertaking. The authors recently engaged in a data sharing agreement that, while useful for both research and future research management purposes, was challenging in many ways. This article describes their experiences with a data sharing agreement process, the issues with the agreement, and lessons learned by the authors.