How To Turn Research Into a Data Product
A research report gets read once and archived. The structured data behind it -- the actual records, measurements, and sources -- can keep generating value as a dataset long after the report itself is forgotten.
The conversion path is straightforward: take the data you collected for the report, apply a clean schema (entity, category, source, verification date), and separate the narrative analysis from the raw structured records. The report stays as a research report; the records become a standalone dataset.
Documentation matters more here than in most dataset types, because research buyers -- analysts, academics, journalists -- need to cite sources and trust methodology. Note where each data point came from and when it was verified.
Once structured, research data can be licensed for citation, sold as a premium dataset, or offered as a free, citable resource that drives traffic and credibility back to the original report.
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