Data availability statements
They’re not just for quantitative data – they can also be used to describe evidence such as qualitative materials and “data” in the broadest sense.
Data Availability Statements help to promote transparency and reproducibility in research, and to increase the visibility of valuable evidence produced or gathered during the course of research.
As part of our commitment to supporting open research, some of our journals now require all manuscripts to include a Data Availability Statement in order to be accepted for publication.
Does this mean I have to make all my data or evidence publicly available?
No. We encourage all authors to make evidence available when possible, but a Data Availability Statement simply needs to state whether you have made evidence available, and if so, where and how it can be accessed.
If your chosen journal has additional requirements related to sharing data or other evidence, these will be specified in the journal’s instructions for authors.
What counts as “data”?
“Data” is interpreted in the broadest sense to mean any evidence or resources that would be necessary for others to fully evaluate the basis for your findings, and to verify or reproduce your work. This includes raw or processed data sets, code, and protocols, as well as qualitative resources such as images, audio, video, maps, interview transcripts, field notes, and public reports. It also includes any information necessary for others to access, interpret and process these resources.
Where should I put a Data Availability Statement in my manuscript?
Data Availability Statements should generally be placed in the back matter of your manuscript, just before your References, unless your chosen journal specifies otherwise.
However, if your journal uses a double-blind peer review process, it's important to ensure that the information in your Data Availability Statement doesn't compromise the anonymity of you or your co-authors. If there is information in your Data Availability Statement that could be used to identify the manuscript authors, please submit your Data Availability Statement the same way as you would any other identifying information associated with your manuscript, as instructed by your journal. This might be for example as part of a Title Page, submitted as a separate document from your manuscript.
What should I write in a Data Availability Statement?
The table below gives some illustrative examples.
If you have further questions, please contact: researchdata@cambridge.org
Example Data Availability Statements
Examples of data availability statements, showing status of data and materials and providing a dropdown with an example statemen in each case: