Connecting Users, Data and Utilization: A Demand-Side Analysis of Open Government Data

Abstract

Open government data (OGD) could bring various aspects of benefits through transparency and access. Thus, governments have proposed policies and practices to disclose more data to the public. However, studies have shown the utilization of OGD instead of disclosure as a key problem. Although citizens are recognized as a key participant in the utilization process of OGD from demand-side, few studies have revealed the possible relationship among OGD users, their demands of data and utilization. Therefore, our study carried out a survey on a Chinese population to analyse the possible relationship between these three. Results show citizens’ limited awareness of OGD and portals, and their different demands of OGD subjects due to different socio-demographic characteristics. Daily life and anticorruption were the two main types of OGD utilization by citizens. Their types of usage are affected by their education and knowledge of OGD. Different types of utilization could lead to different demands for OGD subjects. We suggest governments to improve citizens’ awareness of their efforts to provide OGD, and deliver more data in the subject categories that are in greater need by citizens. Further studies need to be carried out on citizens’ motivation of OGD utilization.