A study of the roles of metadata standard and data repository in science, technology, engineering and mathematics researchers' data reuse

Purpose This research investigates how the availabilities of both metadata standards and data repositories influence researchers' data reuse intentions either directly or indirectly as mediated by the norms of data reuse and their attitudes toward data reuse. Design/methodology/approach The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was employed to develop the research model of researchers' data reuse intentions, focusing on the roles of metadata standards, data repositories and norms of data reuse. The proposed research model was evaluated using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method based on the survey responses received from 811 STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) researchers in the United States. Findings This research found that the availabilities of both metadata standards and data repositories significantly affect STEM researchers' norm of data reuse, which influences their data reuse intentions as mediated by their attitudes toward data reuse. This research also found that both the availability of data repositories and the norm of data reuse have a direct influence on data reuse intentions and that norm of data reuse significantly increases the effect of attitude toward data reuse on data reuse intention as a moderator. Research limitations/implications The modified model of TPB provides a new perspective in apprehending the roles of resource facilitating conditions such as the availabilities of metadata standards and data repositories in an individual's attitude, norm and their behavioral intention to conduct a certain behavior. Practical implications This study suggests that scientific communities need to develop more supportive metadata standards and data repositories by considering their roles in enhancing the community norm of data reuse, which eventually lead to data reuse behaviors. Originality/value This study sheds light on the mechanism of metadata standard and data repository in researchers' data reuse behaviors through their community norm of data reuse; this can help scientific communities and academic institutions to better support researchers in their data sharing and reuse behaviors. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: