20 years of archiving and sharing qualitative data in the UK

This paper provides a short tour through the 20 plus years of archiving and sharing qualitative data in the UK. Disciplinary definitions of qualitative research and data are considered, and what this might mean for archiving. It outlines what users are doing with archived data and how are data best prepared to reveal context? The practicalities and challenges of sharing qualitative data are highlighted followed by an example of a ‘sensitive’ qualitative data collection that has been shared. The paper notes strategies used by the UK to successfully bring users to the data and encourage the practice of secondary analysis. It concludes by emphasizing the power of collaboration and how important it is that data centres in one country work closely together to provide united services to users.