Mind The Gaps: Analyzing Data Deposits to Assess Coverage in a National Social Science Repository

This contribution presents an analysis of data deposits in SWISSUbase, the main social sciences data repository in Switzerland. SWISSUbase is a CoreTrustSeal-certified self-deposit platform that supports researchers in sharing FAIR data, with professional curation ensuring the quality, documentation, control-access, and reusability of published datasets. Using repository metadata, we profile data depositors and characterize the collection along dimensions such as discipline, institution, and linguistic region. We also examine temporal trends in deposits and the relationship between depositor characteristics and dataset types. Repository coverage is then compared with publicly available data on social science research outputs from the Swiss National Science Foundation, Switzerland’s main research funder. This comparative analysis highlights areas where the repository is underrepresented, revealing gaps in coverage and potential biases in dataset submission patterns. Based on these findings, we propose targeted strategies to enhance outreach, support underrepresented disciplines, and increase institutional participation, aiming for a more comprehensive and balanced collection. While focused on Switzerland, our approach demonstrates how systematic deposit analysis can guide repository development, inform curation policies, and support data sharing infrastructures internationally. The lessons learned are relevant for repositories seeking to improve coverage, participation, and FAIR data adoption across diverse research communities.