Data Sharing Policy

Data Sharing and Transparency Policy

Introduction
The Axis Community Research Journal (ACRJ) is a strong proponent of open science and research transparency. We believe that sharing the data underlying published research enhances its credibility, enables reproducibility, fosters secondary analysis, and maximizes the public utility and impact of scholarly work, particularly in community-engaged contexts. This policy establishes clear expectations for data sharing related to research published in ACRJ.

Purpose
The primary purpose of this policy is to promote the responsible sharing of research data to accelerate scientific discovery, encourage collaborative and interdisciplinary inquiry, and strengthen the evidence base for community practice and policy. Data sharing supports the verification of findings, allows for the exploration of novel research questions, and honors the contribution of research participants by ensuring their data can yield continued benefit.

Scope
This policy applies to all original research manuscripts submitted to ACRJ, especially those presenting empirical findings. It is strongly encouraged for other article types, such as systematic reviews and meta-analyses, where the sharing of synthesized data or search protocols is valuable.

Data Availability Statement
Authors are required to include a Data Availability Statement in their manuscript, placed in a dedicated section preceding the reference list. This statement must clearly articulate:

  • Whether the datasets generated and/or analyzed during the study are available.

  • If data are available: The permanent repository where they have been deposited, along with the persistent identifier (e.g., DOI, accession number) and a direct link to the dataset.

  • The conditions governing data access (e.g., open access, registration required, data use agreement).

  • If data are not publicly available: A detailed, justified explanation of the legal, ethical, commercial, or privacy restrictions that prevent sharing. Where possible, authors should describe how bona fide researchers may request access to the data under controlled conditions.

Preferred Public Repositories
Authors are strongly encouraged to deposit data in a recognized, discipline-specific, or general-purpose public repository that ensures long-term preservation, assigns persistent identifiers, and provides stable access. Examples include Zenodo, Dryad, Harvard Dataverse, ICPSR, and repositories tailored to specific data types (e.g., qualitative data repositories). The repository should align with the FAIR Data Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

Exceptions and Ethical Safeguards
ACRJ acknowledges that legitimate constraints may limit full data sharing. These include:

  • Privacy and confidentiality concerns, especially with sensitive qualitative data from small communities or vulnerable populations.

  • Legal restrictions, contractual agreements, or intellectual property rights.

  • Ethical approvals that explicitly prohibit public archiving.
    In such cases, the Data Availability Statement must provide a clear, specific rationale. Authors must ensure that all shared data are de-identified and anonymized to protect participant confidentiality, in strict compliance with informed consent agreements and relevant data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR).

Data Citation
To give proper credit and enable tracking of data reuse, datasets that have been cited in the manuscript must be formally referenced in the reference list. Citations should include authors, year, dataset title, repository, identifier (DOI), and version number if applicable.

Compliance and Editorial Oversight
Adherence to this policy is a mandatory condition for the publication of original research in ACRJ. The editorial office will review the Data Availability Statement during the submission process and may request clarification or additional information. Failure to provide an adequate statement or justification for non-sharing may result in delays or rejection of the manuscript.

Support for Authors
ACRJ is committed to supporting authors in meeting these requirements. Authors uncertain about suitable repositories, data anonymization techniques, or crafting a Data Availability Statement are encouraged to consult the editorial office (acrj.axisacademics@gmail.com) for guidance early in the submission process.

Policy Foundation
This policy is informed by and aligns with the best practices and guidelines promulgated by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the FAIR Data Principles. It reflects our commitment to ethical, transparent, and impactful scholarly communication.