Open Data Policies among Library and Information Science Journals

Brian Jackson

doi:10.3390/publications9020025

Abstract

Journal publishers play an important role in the open research data ecosystem. Through open data policies that include public data archiving mandates and data availability statements, journal publishers help promote transparency in research and wider access to a growing scholarly record. The library and information science (LIS) discipline has a unique relationship with both open data initiatives and academic publishing and may be well-positioned to adopt rigorous open data policies. This study examines the information provided on public-facing websites of LIS journals in order to describe the extent, and nature, of open data guidance provided to prospective authors. Open access journals in the discipline have disproportionately adopted detailed, strict open data policies. Commercial publishers, which account for the largest share of publishing in the discipline, have largely adopted weaker policies. Rigorous policies, adopted by a minority of journals, describe the rationale, application, and expectations for open research data, while most journals that provide guidance on the matter use hesitant and vague language. Recommendations are provided for strengthening journal open data policies.

Highlights

The idea of research data as a public good is burgeoning across disciplines
Open data policies lay out the expectations of a journal for the management and sharing of research data underpinning findings reported in the publication
While this study has demonstrated a greater rate of adoption of open data policies among open access journals, there is room for growth in this area among both open access and commercial journals

Summary

Introduction

The idea of research data as a public good is burgeoning across disciplines. In this shifting conception, open research data is observed as bolstering the transparency and reproducibility of results reported in other research products and as a distinct contribution to the scholarly record. Open data policies lay out the expectations of a journal for the management and sharing of research data underpinning findings reported in the publication. Those policies may describe how authors should communicate the status and availability of research datasets to readers, usually through data availability statements. Open data policies vary greatly in terms of rigidity, precision, and scope, and have by no means been universally adopted. Despite these variations, the implementation of journal data policies is touted as a useful strategy for promoting open data at a key point of intervention in the research process

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion