4.3 Why APIs?

Advantages:

  • ‘Pure’ data collection: avoid malformed HTML, no legal issues, clear data structures, more trust in data collection…
  • Standardized data access procedures: transparency, replicability
  • Robustness: benefits from ‘wisdom of the crowds’

Disadvantages

  • They’re not too common (yet!)
  • Dependency on API providers
  • Lack of natural connection to R