Open Research and Scholarly Publications (NEW): Data Access Statements

Data Access Statements

Data access statements, also known as data availability statements, are included in publications to describe where the data associated with the paper is available and under what conditions it can be accessed. These statements are often required by funders and journals to ensure transparency and reproducibility in research. By providing clear information on data availability, researchers enable others to verify results, build upon existing work, and foster a culture of openness and collaboration within the scientific community. Data access statements typically include details such as the repository where the data is stored, any persistent identifiers (e.g., DOIs), and specific conditions or restrictions on data access. They play a crucial role in promoting ethical data sharing practices, protecting participant privacy, and complying with legal and institutional requirements. Overall, these statements contribute to the integrity and credibility of scientific research by making data more accessible and usable for future studies.

Examples of Data Access Statements

Openly Available Data:

"Data supporting this study are openly available from [Name of Repository] at [DOI, Accession Number, or URL]."

Data Available After an Embargo:

"Data supporting this study will be available from [Name of Repository] at [DOI, Accession Number, or URL] following a [6/12/18/24/other]-month embargo."

Data Included in the Article:

 "Data supporting this study are included within the article and/or supporting materials."

Legal or Ethical Restrictions:

"Data supporting this study are available from [Name of Repository] at [DOI, Accession Number, or URL]. Access to the data is restricted due to legal and ethical considerations. Requests for access to the data should be directed to [Your Contact Information]."

Commercial Restrictions:

"The data that support the findings of this study are available from [Name of Repository] at [DOI, Accession Number, or URL]. However, access to these data is restricted due to commercial confidentiality. Interested researchers may contact [Your Contact Information] for further information."

Sensitive Data:

"Data supporting this study are available from [Name of Repository] at [DOI, Accession Number, or URL]. Due to the sensitive nature of the data, access is restricted. Researchers wishing to access the data should submit a request to [Your Contact Information], outlining their research objectives and how they plan to use the data."

Data Available on Request:

"The data that support the findings of this study are not publicly available due to [specific reason, e.g., privacy concerns, proprietary data]. Data are however available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of [Institution/Organization]. Requests should be directed to [Your Contact Information]."

Third-Party Data:

"This study used third-party data that are not publicly available. Data are available from the [Third Party] but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study, and so are not publicly available. Data requests may be directed to [Third Party Contact Information]."

No New Data Generated:

"No new data were generated or analysed during this study."

Where should I place a Data Access Statement in my research output?

An access statement should be positioned in a prominent and easily accessible section of your output to ensure that readers can quickly find and understand the availability of the data supporting your research. Typically, this statement is placed towards the end of the document, often in the Acknowledgments or Supplementary Information section. In some cases, journals may have specific guidelines on where to include the data access statement, such as immediately following the References section or within a dedicated Data Availability section. Ensuring that the statement is clearly labelled and positioned helps maintain transparency and facilitates the reproducibility of your research. Always check the specific requirements of the journal or publisher to ensure compliance with their guidelines.

In summary...

When writing your data access statement, make sure to include:

• Where the data can be accessed (preferably a data repository).
• A persistent identifier, such as a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or a link to a permanent record for the dataset.
• Details of any restrictions on accessing the data and a justifiable explanation if applicable.

If you need guidance, please get in contact.