Data and reproducibility

Data and Reproducibility

1. Introduction

NERS Jurnal Keperawatan (NJK), published by the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Andalas, is committed to promoting transparency, research integrity, and reproducibility in nursing and health sciences research. The journal recognizes that clear descriptions of research methods, appropriate management of research data, and responsible data-sharing practices are essential to evaluating the reliability and credibility of published findings.

Data transparency and reproducibility enable researchers to assess research methods, verify findings where possible, build upon existing evidence, and support the development of evidence-based nursing practice and healthcare services. This policy outlines NJK’s expectations regarding research data availability, data citation, reporting guidelines, and the reproducibility of published research, while respecting participant confidentiality, research ethics, and applicable legal requirements.

2. Description

Research Data refers to information and materials collected, observed, generated, or analyzed to support research findings. In nursing and health sciences, research data may include quantitative datasets, qualitative interview transcripts, survey responses, clinical observations, assessment results, research instruments, protocols, statistical analysis files, software, and other materials relevant to the study.

Reproducibility refers to the extent to which research findings can be independently examined or reproduced using the original data, methods, analytical procedures, and other relevant materials, where these are available and access is ethically and legally permissible. Reproducibility may also involve conducting further studies using sufficiently detailed descriptions of the original research methods.

Reporting Guidelines are established checklists, reporting standards, or structured guidance intended to improve the completeness, transparency, and quality of research reporting. Examples relevant to nursing and health sciences include CONSORT for randomized trials, STROBE for observational studies, PRISMA for systematic reviews, and COREQ for qualitative research.

Responsible data management and reproducible research practices can strengthen confidence in research findings, support evidence-based nursing practice, facilitate collaboration, reduce unnecessary duplication of research, and promote public trust in nursing and healthcare research.

3. Policy

3.1 Data Availability and Sharing

NJK encourages authors to make the data and supporting materials underlying their research findings available to readers whenever ethically, legally, and practically possible.

Authors are required to include a Data Availability Statement in their manuscript. The statement should explain whether the data supporting the findings are available and, where applicable, how and under what conditions they can be accessed.

Data may be made available through a trusted repository, supplementary materials accompanying the article, or a reasonable request to the corresponding author, subject to applicable ethical, legal, and confidentiality requirements.

NJK recognizes that research data cannot always be shared publicly. Restrictions may apply to data involving patients, vulnerable populations, confidential interviews, identifiable personal information, institutional records, or third-party ownership. In such cases, authors must explain the restrictions in their Data Availability Statement. Access to restricted data may be considered where appropriate and subject to the necessary permissions, ethical approvals, and safeguards.

Patient confidentiality and participant privacy take priority over public data sharing. Authors must not publish identifiable patient information or confidential research data without the appropriate legal basis, consent, ethical approval, and safeguards.

3.2 Data Citation

Authors must appropriately acknowledge and cite datasets and other research materials used in or generated by their studies when these materials are publicly available or have been formally published.

Where available, authors are encouraged to use persistent identifiers, such as Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), and provide sufficient citation information to enable readers to locate the relevant datasets.

Data citations should be included in the manuscript and reference list where appropriate, following the journal’s applicable reference style.

3.3 Research Reporting Guidelines

NJK encourages authors to follow established reporting guidelines appropriate to their study design and research methodology. These guidelines help ensure that manuscripts provide sufficient information for readers and reviewers to evaluate the study and understand how the findings were obtained.

Examples include:

  • CONSORT: Randomized controlled trials.

  • STROBE: Observational studies, including cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies.

  • PRISMA: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

  • COREQ: Qualitative research using interviews and focus groups.

  • STARD: Diagnostic accuracy studies.

  • CARE: Case reports.

  • SQUIRE: Quality improvement studies in healthcare.

  • SRQR: Qualitative research reporting.

Authors should consult the reporting guideline most appropriate to their study design. Relevant resources are available through the EQUATOR Network at https://www.equator-network.org/.

3.4 Research Materials, Instruments, and Analytical Procedures

For studies involving statistical analysis, qualitative analysis, clinical assessment instruments, intervention protocols, or other specialized procedures, authors are encouraged to provide sufficient methodological detail to enable readers to understand and evaluate the research process.

Where appropriate and permissible, authors may share research instruments, questionnaires, interview guides, protocols, statistical code, analysis scripts, or other supporting materials through recognized repositories or supplementary files.

Authors must respect copyright, licensing conditions, instrument-use permissions, confidentiality obligations, and other applicable restrictions when sharing research materials.

3.5 Reproducibility of Research Findings

Authors are responsible for describing their research methods, data collection procedures, study populations, interventions where applicable, outcome measures, and analytical methods with sufficient clarity to support critical assessment of the reported findings.

For quantitative studies, relevant information may include statistical methods, software and version information, definitions of variables, and the procedures used to handle missing data.

For qualitative studies, relevant information may include participant selection, data collection procedures, analytical approaches, and the processes used to support the credibility and trustworthiness of the findings.

For systematic reviews, authors should provide sufficient information about search strategies, eligibility criteria, study selection, data extraction, and synthesis methods.

NJK may request clarification or additional supporting materials when necessary to assess the transparency or reliability of a manuscript. Any request for additional data or materials must respect participant confidentiality, research ethics, and applicable legal requirements.

3.6 Data Integrity and Retention

Authors are expected to maintain accurate research records, original data where applicable, and relevant supporting documentation in accordance with their institutional policies, research ethics approvals, funder requirements, and applicable regulations.

Authors should retain research data for a reasonable period consistent with these requirements and should be able to explain the procedures used to generate and analyze their findings.

Where legitimate concerns arise regarding the accuracy, integrity, or interpretation of published research, NJK may request relevant explanations or supporting documentation from the authors, subject to ethical, legal, and confidentiality restrictions.

3.7 Registration of Studies

Where applicable, NJK encourages prospective registration of clinical trials and other studies for which registration is recommended or required by relevant ethical, regulatory, or disciplinary standards.

Systematic review authors are encouraged to register their review protocols in an appropriate publicly accessible registry, such as PROSPERO, where eligible.

Authors should provide the registry name, registration number, and registration date in the manuscript when applicable. If a study was not registered despite registration being relevant, authors should explain this where appropriate.

4. Technical Requirements and Implementation

4.1 Data Availability Statement

A Data Availability Statement must be included in submitted manuscripts. It should appear in a clearly identifiable section, preferably before the References, unless the journal’s manuscript template specifies otherwise.

The statement must accurately describe the availability of the data supporting the research findings. Authors may adapt one of the following examples to reflect their circumstances.

Data publicly available:

“The data supporting the findings of this study are available in [repository name] at [DOI or URL].”

Data included as supplementary material:

“The data supporting the findings of this study are provided in the supplementary materials accompanying this article.”

Data available upon reasonable request:

“The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request, subject to applicable ethical, legal, and confidentiality requirements.”

No new data were generated or analyzed:

“No new data were generated or analyzed for this study. Data availability is therefore not applicable.”

Data restricted for ethical or confidentiality reasons:

“The data supporting the findings of this study are not publicly available because of ethical, privacy, or confidentiality restrictions. Access may be considered upon reasonable request, subject to the necessary permissions and applicable ethical and legal requirements.”

Authors must select or adapt the statement that accurately reflects their research. They must not claim that data are publicly available if the data cannot actually be accessed.

4.2 Selection of Data Repositories

When public data sharing is appropriate, NJK encourages authors to use trusted repositories that provide stable access, appropriate data protection, and persistent identifiers where available.

Possible repositories include Zenodo, Figshare, OSF, institutional repositories, and discipline-specific repositories suitable for the research data.

Authors should consider whether the repository is appropriate for the type and sensitivity of the data. Data containing identifiable patient information or other confidential information must not be deposited in a public repository unless disclosure is lawfully and ethically permitted and appropriate safeguards are in place.

4.3 Documentation and Organization of Shared Materials

Where data and supporting materials are shared, authors are encouraged to provide clear documentation to facilitate interpretation and responsible reuse. Depending on the study, this may include a description of variables, a data dictionary, a codebook, research protocols, instrument information, analytical procedures, or software details.

Shared files should be organized in accessible formats where feasible. Authors should ensure that documentation does not disclose confidential information or violate the rights of research participants or third parties.

4.4 Citation of Data and Research Materials

Publicly available datasets, protocols, software, and other research outputs used to support a manuscript should be cited appropriately. Citations should include available information such as the creator or author, title, year, repository or publisher, version, and persistent identifier or URL.

Authors remain responsible for ensuring that citations accurately identify the materials used in their research.

4.5 Peer Review Considerations

Reviewers may consider whether the research methods and supporting information are described sufficiently to permit critical evaluation of the findings.

Where relevant and feasible, reviewers may be invited to assess the adequacy of the Data Availability Statement, the transparency of the analytical procedures, and the availability of supporting materials. Access to confidential data must not be assumed and may only occur when ethically and legally permissible and appropriately authorized.

4.6 Post-Publication Data Concerns

If concerns arise after publication regarding research data, data availability, methodological transparency, or the reproducibility of findings, NJK will assess the concerns in accordance with its publication ethics procedures.

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may request clarification or supporting documentation from the authors, consult relevant institutional or ethical authorities, or take appropriate editorial action. Such action may include publication of a correction, an Expression of Concern, or a retraction when justified by the evidence and consistent with the journal’s publication ethics policies.

4.7 Exceptions and Embargoes

Authors who cannot share data publicly for legitimate ethical, legal, privacy, confidentiality, intellectual property, or third-party contractual reasons must explain the restrictions in their Data Availability Statement.

Where an embargo is applicable, authors should explain the reason and expected duration, if known. Any proposed data sharing or embargo must comply with relevant ethical approvals, consent conditions, institutional requirements, and applicable regulations.

Exceptions will be considered in light of the circumstances of the study and the need to protect research participants and maintain research integrity.

5. Policy Review

NJK may periodically review this policy to ensure that it remains consistent with developments in research integrity, data protection, publication ethics, and best practices in nursing and health sciences publishing.

COPE and Reporting Resources

Authors are encouraged to consult the following resources for further guidance:

For questions regarding this policy, authors may contact:

NERS Jurnal Keperawatan (NJK)
Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Andalas
Limau Manis, Pauh, Padang, West Sumatra 25163, Indonesia
Email: jurnal.fkep.unand@gmail.com
Website: https://ners.fkep.unand.ac.id/index.php/NJK/index