Purpose This study examines how staff members from CoreTrustSeal-certified repositories characterize the primary value of Trustworthy Digital Repository certification, addressing a gap in empirical research about the value and/or benefits of certification. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted with staff members from CoreTrustSeal-certified repositories in 2020. Of the 171 certified organizations contacted, 88 completed responses were analyzed (53.98% response rate). Qualitative data from open-response questions about certification value underwent three-cycle coding analysis using NVivo, with interrater reliability checks conducted for the first two coding rounds. Findings Repository staff identified both internal and external certification benefits. Internal value derives from the certification process itself, including improved accountability, documentation, shared understanding, and risk mitigation. External value stems from having achieved certification, encompassing stakeholder communication, demonstrating trustworthiness, and competitive advantage. Notably, many respondents characterized certification as guaranteeing long-term preservation. Some grounded this guarantee in substantive improvements prompted by certification, while others located it in the credential itself. Both orientations reflect an inflated understanding of the structural assurances certification provides, or assurance inflation. Originality/value This provides the first comprehensive empirical examination of how staff from CoreTrustSeal-certified repositories value certification, identifying internal and external benefits. The study introduces the concept of assurance inflation, revealing how institutional stakeholders may overstate structural assurance guarantees, contributing new theoretical insights to research on trust and structural assurance in digital repositories.
Rebecca D. Frank (Tue,) studied this question.