Data Sharing Mandates, Developmental Science, and Responsibly Supporting Authors

Area of Science:

• Developmental Science
• Multidisciplinary Research
• Scientific Publishing Ethics

Background:

• Data sharing is evolving from a professional courtesy to an ethical and institutional requirement.
• Journals and publishers are increasingly mandating data sharing policies.
• This editorial outlines the Journal of Youth and Adolescence's approach to a new data sharing mandate.

Discussion:

• Balancing the benefits of data sharing against the costs for authors is crucial.
• Multidisciplinary developmental science journals face unique challenges in data sharing.
• The journal prioritizes supporting data creators and avoids coercive public sharing policies.

Key Insights:

• The journal's policy supports data creators by not requiring public sharing as a publication condition.
• The policy acknowledges authors' diverse data needs and varying circumstances.
• Consideration is given to the integrity of peer review and potential harms of unilateral mandates.

Outlook:

• The journal aims for a balanced approach to data sharing that respects authors' needs.
• Future policies will continue to evaluate the evolving landscape of scientific data sharing.
• This approach seeks to foster ethical research practices while mitigating potential negative impacts on researchers.