Data Availability Statement

The Journal supports transparency and responsible data sharing to promote the reproducibility, verification, and advancement of scholarly research.

Authors are encouraged to make the data supporting the findings of their research available whenever this is ethically, legally, and practically possible.

1. Data Availability Statement Requirement

Authors should include a Data Availability Statement in every manuscript where applicable.

The statement should clearly indicate whether the data supporting the findings are:

·         publicly available;

·         available upon reasonable request;

·         available with restrictions; or

·         not applicable or not available.

The statement should be included in the manuscript before the References section, unless otherwise specified by the Journal.

2. Publicly Available Data

When research data are deposited in a public repository, authors should provide the repository name and a persistent identifier, such as a DOI or other permanent link.

Example:

"The data supporting the findings of this study are publicly available in [Repository Name] at [DOI/URL]."

3. Data Available Upon Request

Where data cannot be made publicly available but can reasonably be shared, authors may provide access upon request.

Example:

"The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request."

Authors should explain any applicable conditions or restrictions where necessary.

4. Restricted or Confidential Data

Data may be subject to restrictions because of privacy, confidentiality, ethical requirements, legal restrictions, contractual obligations, or other legitimate considerations.

Example:

"The data are not publicly available because they contain information that could compromise the privacy of research participants."

Where possible, authors are encouraged to provide appropriate alternatives, such as anonymized or aggregated data.

5. No Data Were Generated or Analyzed

For articles that do not involve the generation or analysis of research data, authors may state:

"No new data were generated or analyzed in this study."

This may apply, where appropriate, to certain conceptual, theoretical, commentary, or other non-data-driven articles.

6. Research Data and Ethical Responsibilities

Authors must not make research data publicly available when doing so would violate:

·         participant privacy;

·         informed consent requirements;

·         confidentiality agreements;

·         applicable laws or regulations;

·         institutional policies; or

·         other ethical or contractual obligations.

Where human or sensitive data are involved, authors should ensure that data sharing is consistent with the applicable ethical requirements.

7. Data Repositories

Where appropriate, authors are encouraged to use reputable institutional, disciplinary, or general-purpose repositories that provide persistent access and appropriate metadata.

Authors should provide sufficient information to allow readers to identify and access the relevant dataset, subject to applicable restrictions.

8. Editorial Assessment

The Journal may assess the adequacy and transparency of a Data Availability Statement during the editorial process.

Where necessary, authors may be asked to clarify the availability, provenance, or conditions of access to research data.

The absence of publicly available data does not automatically constitute a reason for rejection when legitimate ethical, legal, privacy, or methodological reasons prevent data sharing.

9. Responsibility of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their Data Availability Statement is accurate and consistent with the actual availability and conditions of access to the research data.

Authors should not claim that data are available when the stated access cannot reasonably be provided.

The Journal encourages responsible data sharing while recognizing that appropriate practices may vary across disciplines, research designs, and types of data.