Research data governance: A qualitative study of public views on data visiting, researcher reputability and public engagement in Singapore

Background Government-funded data platforms worldwide link diverse datasets for secondary research. Their functioning relies on public trust, which requires understanding public perspectives on data governance and aligning policies where possible. This study explores public perspectives on three key aspects of data governance in Singapore: data access methods, researcher credibility assessment and public involvement models. Methods We conducted four focus group discussions ( n = 38) with Singapore citizens and permanent residents from the Health Opinion Panel Singapore (HOPS) panel. Discussions explored preferences regarding data visiting versus data sharing, characteristics of reputable researchers and models for incorporating public input into governance. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Our analysis identified four key themes. First, participants preferred governance controls over technical protections, valuing oversight regardless of access method. Second, trustworthiness rather than reputation was prioritized, with personal integrity and research purpose considered more important than institutional affiliation. Third, participants preferred balanced approaches to public involvement incorporating diverse perspectives while maintaining efficiency. Finally, participants expressed concerns about societal harms beyond individual privacy, including commercial exploitation, community stigmatization and impacts on vulnerable populations. Conclusions Our findings suggest that data governance should prioritize transparency, meaningful public involvement and comprehensive assessment of trustworthiness to maintain public trust and social license to operate. Technical approaches like data visiting must be complemented by robust governance frameworks incorporating public values and addressing long-term societal impacts. As health data platforms evolve globally, incorporating diverse public perspectives in governance can enhance legitimacy, strengthen accountability and ensure research contributes to public benefit.