Data Access Statement and Material Availability

Data Access Statement:
The corresponding author must provide a declaration about the Data Access Statement before the “Reference” section in the article during submission to the journal, indicating where the source data can be found and how it can be accessed. This statement should include details of any materials, data, code, or protocols necessary to access the data, and availability should be accessible publicly without requiring credentials or login information. During the peer review process, the authorship of the data will be anonymised. The journals also use a double-anonymisation peer review process [1].

Authors should ensure that data is publicly accessible in a repository for a reasonable period after publication. Numerous warehouses support double-anonymisation during the peer-review process. The corresponding authors must ensure that after publication, the data remains accessible in a repository for a substantial period. 

If the authors fail to comply with the guidelines regarding data access statements post-publication, readers can promptly and confidently contact the journal for assistance. The journal is committed to addressing complaints with the utmost seriousness and will devote its editorial efforts towards finding a prompt and satisfactory resolution. Any concerns brought to our attention will be handled professionally and promptly to maintain our high standards of excellence.

If the editor can’t resolve the grievances, they’ll inform the author’s funding organisations and publish a correction statement. This statement will be available online, notifying readers that the necessary materials to replicate the findings were not attainable. The author responsible for correspondence assumes complete accountability for procuring all requisite permissions and ensuring adherence to local regulations regarding data sharing.

  • Data for Clinical Trial: The published articles containing data for clinical trials have incorporated data availability statements that comply with the prevailing industry best practices standards [2], e.g., Arrive guidelines.
  • Datasets: Please provide a detailed summary of the accessibility of the dataset used in the analysis. It is imperative to clearly understand the ease with which the data can be accessed, both in terms of the technical requirements and the associated costs or fees. This information will be instrumental in determining the extent to which other professionals in the field can utilise the data. Kindly ensure that all relevant details are included to enable a thorough assessment of the accessibility of the datasets. Including appropriate unique identifiers or accession codes is significant if the data is publicly available. This information will aid in accurately identifying and accessing the data by interested parties.
  • Identity of the third-party provider: In the data availability statement of a study, it is advisable to reveal the identity of any third-party data provider unless such disclosure is irrelevant or potentially harms their reputation or commercial interests. Adherence to this practice helps to ensure transparency and accountability in research endeavours and promotes a culture of ethical and collaborative data sharing in the academic and business arenas.
  • Third-Party Data: If third-party data is unavailable, explicitly state the limitations in the data availability statement. In the event of a request for peer review, it is essential to provide data for study, but only if it meets the ethical and legal requirements and falls under a data use agreement.
  • Proprietary Data: Authors must secure the consent of third-party data providers to enable the availability of their dataset(s) for replication and authentication post-publication. The data availability statement must precisely and explicitly state the dataset’s availability, including the possibility of fee-based access. It is essential to ensure that the data is available and can be verified to uphold the integrity and credibility of the research.
  • Restricted Data Availability: In instances where there are limitations to data availability, authors must provide a detailed explanation and contact information. If access to the data is strictly limited, the article may be declined. In case of a use agreement, editors may request a copy of the data use agreement.
  • Data held by governments, National and International authorities: When conducting social science and other studies with administrative data, it is essential to obtain all necessary permissions if data adheres to any regional, national and international regulatory and legal framework.

Material Availability Statement:
Authors should clearly state if any access restrictions are on materials during the submission of the article. Unless otherwise stated, the corresponding author ensures the availability of required materials. Authors should provide exhaustive information concerning new compounds’ chemical structure, synthesis, and characterisation to facilitate precise replication. It is advisable to adhere to established standards when handling biological materials, for example, cell lines and mutant strains. Following established protocols can help ensure scientific accuracy and reproducibility and minimise contamination or other adverse effects. Therefore, it is essential to maintain meticulous records of biological materials’ source, handling, and disposal and to use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety measures. By following these guidelines, researchers can help ensure the integrity of their work and minimise the minimisation of errors or accidents [1] [2]. For example, Jackson Laboratory, KOMP, EMMA, EUCOMM

Codes and Algorithms Availability Statement:
The corresponding author must provide any algorithm or custom code to generate the outcome to the editor during the submission of the article. Editors may decline the article if the required code or algorithm is unavailable. Authors should ensure the code availability statement in the declaration section indicates where the source data can be found and how it can be accessed [1]. The code is recommended to be deposited in a repository, for example, Zenodo.

Data Citation:
It is essential to provide the author(s), title, repository name, and identifier, as Data Cite recommends. Moreover, any dataset identifiers, including DOIs, should be expressed as complete URLs. This approach will enable readers to quickly locate and access the referenced datasets and provide credibility to the research work [1].

For an example:
Hao, Z., AghaKouchak, A., Nakhjiri, N. & Farahmand, A. Global Integrated Drought Monitoring and Prediction System (GIDMaPS) Data sets. figshare http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.853801 (2014)

References:

  1. COPE- Data Availability Statements
  2. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) – Data Sharing