Open Data Research Across 15 Years: A Content Analysis of Journal Articles

Abstract

Over the past 15 years, the open data movement has transformed from a niche policy initiative into a global phenomenon that touches nearly every aspect of modern society. This paper presents a comprehensive content analysis of open data research published in peer-reviewed journal articles from 2010 to 2025. Through systematic review and thematic analysis, we trace the evolution of open data research across five distinct periods: Foundation (2010-2012), Growth (2013-2016), Maturation (2017-2019), Transformation (2020-2022), and Innovation (2023-2025). Our analysis reveals significant shifts in research focus, from early concerns with transparency and policy formulation to contemporary explorations of artificial intelligence integration and data sustainability. The findings highlight the increasing sophistication of research methodologies, the geographic expansion of open data initiatives from developed to developing countries, and the emergence of new challenges related to data governance, ethics, and long-term sustainability. This study contributes to the field by providing a holistic understanding of how open data research has evolved and by identifying promising directions for future inquiry.

Keywords: Open Data; Open Government Data; Content Analysis; Systematic Literature Review; Data Sharing; Fair Principles; Data Governance

Citation

Mahabub Sultan. Open Data Research Across 15 Years: A Content Analysis of Journal Articles. WebLog J Comp Sci Technol. wjcst.2026.d0601. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19652397