Data Policy Promotes Integrative Development of Data Publication and Sci-tech Journals in China

Abstract

[Purposes/significance] Integrative development of data publication and sci-tech journals is a win-win solution. However, nowadays the publication of data related to journal articles is few and the awareness and initiative of authors about data publication have not been activated yet in China. Therefore, this paper investigated practical experience for data policies of international publishers, on this basis, the operation mechanism and data policies which suitable for sci-tech journals in China were put forward, as to provide strong support for data publication and world-class journal construction in China. [Methods/process] The data policy and operation mechanism of five international publishers (i.e., Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, SAGE publishing, Taylor & Francis and so on) and the current situation of the publication of data related to journal articles in China were obtained through literature research, case research, and network information collection. [Result/conclusion] The implementation mode on data policies of five international publishers is basically same: general policy introduction + free choice of individual journals. Results showed that 68%, 99.9%, 92.2%, 47.0% and 69.3% of journals under Elsevier, Springer nature, Wiley, SAGE publishing, and Taylor & Francis clearly put forward the data policies, respectively. However, most of them adopted the “encouragement” policy. Their practical experience for data policies is worth learning for Chinese journals. Based on characteristics of Chinese journals, we should formulate the journal data policy standards and implementation mode, gradually promoting the breadth and depth of the integrative development of data publication and sci-tech journals.

Keywords

• sci-tech journal