Data Availability and Reproducibility Policy

Data Availability

Authors should make the data, code, protocols, instruments, and other materials necessary to understand and reproduce the reported findings available in a trusted repository whenever ethically, legally, and technically possible. The manuscript must include a data availability statement identifying the repository and persistent identifier, describing access conditions, or explaining why sharing is restricted.

Exceptions

Restrictions may be justified by participant consent, privacy, confidentiality, security, Indigenous data governance, commercial agreements, or law. When public deposit is not possible, authors should describe a controlled-access process or state that data cannot be shared and give the reason.

Research Integrity

Authors are responsible for accurate data, complete documentation, appropriate licenses, and the right to share materials. Editors or reviewers may request underlying data during assessment. Data and records should be retained in accordance with disciplinary, institutional, funder, and legal requirements. Fabrication, falsification, selective reporting, or refusal to provide evidence without justification may trigger an integrity investigation.