The 4 Rs: Researcher credentials for replication and re-use of restricted data

The value of research data comes not just from the original results of the research but from the utility of the data over time. Reuse of restricted data is challenged by the legal and ethical requirements to protect the research subjects, including lengthy data access request timeframes and oft-redundant identity verification processes within and between restricted data repositories. This paper will present the results of an organizational study of 23 U.S. and international restricted data services and repositories' data access processes that will lead to the development of a transferable researcher repository credential. The results of this study highlight repository practices, including the classification of data at different levels of restriction, expected researcher training and experience, and tracking of prior data use, that require reconciliation in order for the access credentials of one repository to be accepted at other repositories. Our analysis identifies inconsistencies in language and terminology as well as requirements. We present these points of conflict and provide suggestions for their harmonization