Data is not available upon request Hussey

Data is not available upon request
Ian Hussey

Abstract

Many journals now require data sharing and require articles to include a Data Availability Statement. However, several studies over the past two decades have shown that promissory notes about data sharing are rarely abided by and that data is generally not available upon request. This has negative consequences for many essential aspects of scientific knowledge production, including independent verification of results, efficient secondary use of data, and knowledge synthesis. I assessed the prevalence of data sharing upon request in articles employing the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure published within the last 5 years. Of 52 articles, 42% contained a Data Availability Statement, most of which stated that data was available upon request. This rose from 0% in 2018 to 100% in 2022, indicating a change in journals’ policies. However, only 27% of articles’ authors actually shared data. Among articles stating that data was available upon request, only 17% shared data upon request. The presence of Data Availability Statements was not associated with higher rates of data sharing (p = .55), indicating a lack of adherence with journals’ policies. Results replicate those found elsewhere: data is generally not available upon request, and promissory Data Availability Statements are typically not adhered to. Issues, causes, and implications are considered.

https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/jbu9r_v1

 

Seems about right. How can it be fixed?

 

If I was a funder, and if (this is a big if) I was funding research with the goal of advancing societal knowledge about something (instead of, you know, legitimising my actions through dodgy research agreeing with me)

I would require every study I fund to open source anonymysed version of the data. In many studies, the raw data is often far more valuable than the conclusions in the manuscript.