Data Fitness for Use

This data set is restricted. Contact Wade Bishop (bbisho13@utk.edu) to request access to this data set. This study assesses science data reusers’ information-seeking behavior to determine fitness for use, a concept from consumer behavior research that explains how consumers define and assess product quality and compatibility to satisfy their specific needs. Using a critical incident technique, 22 researchers in earth science described their most recent data discovery resulting in reuse. An interview schedule derived from the FAIR Data Principles framed participants’ information seeking behavior along a sequence of actions, which included finding, accessing, making interoperable, and reusing data.