Debate: we need data infrastructure as well as data sharing – conflicts of interest in video game research

Zendle, D. and Wardle, H. (2023) Debate: we need data infrastructure as well as data sharing – conflicts of interest in video game research. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 28(1), pp. 155-157. (doi: 10.1111/camh.12629)

Abstract

Industry data sharing has the potential to revolutionise evidence on video gaming and mental health, as well as a host of other critical topics. However, collaborative data sharing agreements between academics and industry partners may also afford industry enormous power in steering the development of this evidence base. In this paper, we outline how nonfinancial conflicts of interest may emerge when industry share data with academics. We then go on to describe ways in which such conflicts may affect the quality of the evidence base. Finally, we suggest strategies for mitigating this impact and preserving research independence. We focus on the development of data infrastructure: technological, social, and educational architecture that facilitates unfettered and free access to the kinds of high‐quality data that industry hold, but without industry involvement.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Large data, ethics, mental health, public health.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Wardle, Professor Heather
• Authors: Zendle, D., and Wardle, H.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Journal Name: Child and Adolescent Mental Health
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1475-357X
• ISSN (Online): 1475-3588
• Published Online: 12 December 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Child and Adolescent Mental Health 28(1):155-157
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License