Data Availability Policy

Principles

• Open where possible: Authors should make underlying data openly available unless restricted by valid ethical, legal, or contractual limitations.
• FAIR data: Data should be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable with rich metadata and persistent identifiers.
• Minimal barriers: Prefer repositories that allow access without mandatory registration where feasible.
• Credit and provenance: Properly cite datasets and include versioning information to support reproducibility.

What data should be shared

• Underlying data: Data required to reproduce the main findings, including raw or processed data as appropriate to the field.
• Method assets: Code, scripts, computational notebooks, and analysis pipelines.
• Materials: Protocols, questionnaires, and other study instruments where copyright permits.
• Metadata: Readme files, data dictionaries, and variable descriptions to enable reuse.

Repositories and formats

Deposit data in trusted, discipline-appropriate repositories that issue persistent identifiers such as DOIs or accession numbers. When in doubt, generalist repositories are acceptable.

Use open, non-proprietary formats where possible, or provide exportable alternatives and documentation.

Data availability statement

Include a Data Availability statement in your manuscript. Suggested templates:

• Openly available: The data underlying this study are available in [Repository] at [DOI or URL], under [license].
• Restricted access: The data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request due to [reason, e.g., privacy or consent limitations].
• Controlled access: The data are available via [repository or data access committee] subject to approval and data use agreement.
• No new data: No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable.

Exceptions and sensitive data

• Human subjects: De-identify data and comply with consent terms and applicable regulations. If sharing is not possible, provide a justified statement.
• Third-party rights: Do not share data you do not own without permission. Provide details of how qualified researchers may obtain access.
• Endangered resources: For sensitive locations or species, consider redaction or aggregation following community guidance.

Where data cannot be shared, authors should share code, analysis scripts, and detailed methods to maximize transparency.

Licensing and citation

• Licenses: Choose a license that supports reuse while honoring ethical constraints. Recommend CC BY or CC0 for data when appropriate; use OSI approved licenses for code.
• Citation: Cite datasets in the reference list with persistent identifiers and creators, and cite software or code used in analysis.
• Attribution: Follow repository guidelines for attribution and acknowledgments.

Data during peer review

• Reviewer access: Provide private links, temporary credentials, or embargoed records for reviewers when public release must wait until acceptance.
• Anonymity: Ensure shared materials do not compromise blinding in double-anonymized review.

Compliance and support

• Funder and journal policies: Ensure compliance with funder mandates and journal specific requirements.
• Editorial checks: Editors may request evidence of deposition or clarifications regarding data availability.
• Support: Contact the editorial office for questions about repositories, licenses, or statements.

Contact

Editorial Office - Data Policy
Email: [email protected]