Preserving and sharing data
Data that support research findings should be preserved, and made accessible wherever possible, openly if no reason to restrict access exists, or on a restricted basis as necessary, by the time of publication of related research findings. Supporting datasets should be referenced from related publications.
Data should be as open as possible, as closed as necessary. While open data should be the presumed default in the absence of any reason to restrict access, there may be valid commercial, legal and ethical reasons why some data cannot be shared, or can only be shared on a limited basis. Where data cannot be shared or are subject to access restrictions, this should be clearly indicated in the published results.
The data you preserve and make accessible to others are part of the legacy of the research, and in many cases will be necessary to validate the findings you place on the public record. It is important, therefore, that the data are of good quality, preserved according to appropriate standards, and are made accessible and re-usable.
On the libguide, find out guidance around
- Open and FAIR data
- Data selection
- Licensing data
- Archiving data
- Data availability statements