This dataset provides the data underlying the scientific article "Researchers’ willingness and ability to openly share their research data: a survey of COVID-19 pandemic-related factors". The abstract of the article is as follows: While previous studies show that the drivers and inhibitors for openly sharing research data are diverse and complex, there is a lack of studies empirically examining the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on researchers’ open data sharing behavior. Using a questionnaire (n=135), this study investigates the influence of COVID-19 pandemic-related factors on researchers’ willingness and ability to openly share their research data. Fifty-one respondents (37.8%) stated that factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic increased their willingness and ability to openly share their research data, while 80 (59.3%) reported that various pandemic-related factors did not influence their willingness and ability in this way. As one of the possible influencing factors, this study finds a significant association between the