Data and Reproducibility

Introduction
The International Journal of Data Science (IJoDS) recognizes the critical importance of data availability and research reproducibility in advancing data science. This policy outlines the journal's requirements and recommendations regarding data sharing, data citation, and the use of reporting guidelines.

Description
Reproducibility is a cornerstone of scientific methodology, allowing for verification of findings and building upon previous work. For a journal focused on data science, clear policies on data are particularly vital. IJoDS encourages authors to make their data, code, and methods as open and accessible as possible to foster transparency and facilitate reproducibility.

The Policy

  • Data Availability: Authors are required to include a Data Availability Statement in their manuscripts, explaining where and how the data supporting their findings can be accessed. This may include links to publicly archived datasets, clear instructions for accessing restricted data, or a statement if data cannot be made available with justification.
  • Data Sharing: IJoDS strongly encourages authors to deposit data that support their research findings in recognized, publicly accessible repositories. Where ethical, legal, or privacy constraints prevent public sharing, authors should clearly state these reasons.
  • Code Availability: For research involving computational analysis or software development, authors are strongly encouraged to make their code available, for example, by depositing it in a public repository and citing it.
  • Data Citation: Authors must formally cite all datasets used in their research, whether they are their own or from third parties, in the reference list.
  • Reproducibility: IJoDS encourages practices that enhance reproducibility, such as detailed methodological descriptions, use of open-source tools where possible, and clear documentation of analytical workflows.
  • Reporting Guidelines: Authors should adhere to the relevant reporting guidelines that are standard in their discipline to ensure comprehensive and transparent reporting of their research.
  • Data Integrity: Authors are responsible for the integrity of the data they report. IJoDS may request access to underlying data for verification purposes during peer review or post-publication if concerns arise.
  • Registration of Studies: For certain study designs (e.g., those involving prospective data collection analogous to clinical trials in other fields), IJoDS encourages pre-registration in a public registry.

Implementation of the Policy

  • Data Availability Statement: All submitted manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement. This statement will be published with the article.
  • Submission Requirements:
    • Authors should provide details of any public repositories used for data or code, including accession numbers or persistent identifiers (e.g., DOIs).
    • If data are restricted, authors must explain the reasons and provide clear information on how access can be requested.
    • IJoDS may request that authors submit (anonymized) underlying study data for inspection by editors or reviewers if deemed necessary for manuscript evaluation.
  • Peer Review: Reviewers are encouraged to assess the clarity and completeness of data reporting and the feasibility of reproducing the presented analyses based on the information provided.
  • Data Archiving: IJoDS itself does not host primary research data but encourages authors to use established public repositories. The journal is archived in Portico and can be found at the Keepers, ensuring long-term preservation of the articles.
  • Data Standards: Authors are encouraged to use community-accepted data standards and formats where available to maximize reusability.
  • Addressing Concerns: If questions arise regarding data integrity or reproducibility post-publication, IJoDS will follow established ethical guidelines to investigate and address these concerns.