Scoping review on research data in Spain: Academic output and developing trends

Abstract

Research data have become a central pillar of Open Science, yet in Spain the study of this topic remains fragmented and relatively recent. This scoping review provides a systematic overview of academic output on research data in Spain, examining publication trends, thematic categories, and methodological approaches. Using the Arksey and O'Malley framework, searches were conducted in Scopus and Web of Science, retrieving 26 publications (23 journal articles, two conference papers, and one documentary review) published between 2011 and 2024 in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. Screening was performed with Rayyan software and summarized with a PRISMA diagram. Eight thematic categories were identified: Open Science and Research Data, Research Data Sharing, Editorial Management and Research Data, FAIR Principles, Research Data Projects, Research Data Services in Libraries, Research Data Repositories, and Multidisciplinary Studies on Research Data. Results indicate growing interest in the last five years, though with uneven thematic and methodological development. Greater emphasis has been placed on Open Science frameworks, library services, and repositories, whereas editorial management and FAIR principles remain underexplored. Methodologically, surveys dominate across six categories, limiting depth. Future studies should diversify methods using qualitative, longitudinal and mixed approaches to analyze institutional, cultural and behavioral dynamics shaping research data practices.