Research Data

The journal encourages authors to maintain transparency and accuracy regarding the data underlying their research findings. Research data includes results from observations or experiments that validate the research findings. This may include raw data, processed data, software, algorithms, code, models, protocols, and other useful materials related to the project.

Data Accessibility and Transparency

Authors are requested to deposit and register their research data in a trusted data repository. The table below lists some of the most important global services for sharing research data.

Repository Name Link Description Highlights Mendeley Data https://www.mendeley.com/datasets A secure, cloud‑based, communal repository for easy sharing, access, and citation of research datasets. Dryad https://datadryad.org An open data publishing platform for a wide diversity of data types, committed to the open availability and reuse of research data. Figshare https://figshare.com An all‑in‑one repository for papers, FAIR data, and non‑traditional research outputs, allowing all file formats to be published. Open Science Framework (OSF) https://osf.io A free, open platform that facilitates open collaboration and streamlines research workflows, offering a structured project management system and repository. Zenodo https://zenodo.org A general‑purpose open‑access repository developed by CERN, allowing researchers to deposit research data, software, reports, and more. UK Data Service ReShare https://reshare.ukdataservice.ac.uk The UK Data Service's self‑deposit repository primarily for social science research data, which ensures data conforms with ethical and legal requirements. OpenICPSR https://www.openicpsr.org/openicpsr A self‑publishing repository from ICPSR for social, behavioral, and health sciences data, well‑suited for replication datasets. Qualitative Data Repository (QDR) https://qdr.syr.edu A dedicated archive for storing and sharing digital data generated or collected through qualitative and multi‑method research in the social sciences. These platforms help researchers adhere to the FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability). Sharing data enhances research integrity, discovery, and reuse, which in turn supports reproducibility and increases research impact. As the journal uses a double‑blind peer review process, authors are advised to anonymise their identity in the data provided to reviewers (e.g., through repository links designed to hide identity prior to public publication).

Data Citation and Linking: If datasets have been deposited in a public repository, authors must cite and link to them in their article. Data citations should be included in the reference list and contain a persistent identifier such as a DOI.

Data Availability Statement: All original research articles must include a Data Availability Statement. This statement explains how the data supporting the results and analyses in the article can be accessed: (1) if the data are publicly available, the statement should include links or citations to the archived datasets; and (2) if the data cannot be shared publicly (e.g., due to sensitive or confidential information such as human participant privacy), the statement must clearly explain why the data are not accessible or describe the conditions under which they may be accessed.

Data Retention and Verification: Authors must be prepared to provide the supporting data for their article for review upon request by the Editorial Board to verify the validity of the results. They are also required to retain these data for a reasonable period after publication and, ideally, to archive them permanently.

Ethical Considerations for Data: If the research involves human participants, authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained and that all procedures were carried out in accordance with ethical guidelines concerning data protection and privacy rights.

Integrity in Image Preparation

Authors are obliged to ensure that all digital images (figures, graphs, and artwork) accurately represent the original data. Any manipulation that results in fabrication, deception, or misrepresentation of findings is considered unethical. Adjustments to brightness, contrast, or colour balance are only acceptable if applied uniformly to the entire image and do not result in the removal or concealment of information present in the original. The journal reserves the right to request the original, unprocessed files from authors during the review process or after publication to verify image integrity.