Choose open data

From the range of different options for sharing research data, an increasing number of researchers are choosing to make their data open. This allows maximum reuse of the dataset you’ve generated, enabling it to make as big an impact as possible.

What are open data?

These are data that have been deposited in a public repository under a CC BYCC0 or equivalent license. Therefore, not only are the data freely available for anyone to access but, crucially, they are also available for anyone to reuse for any lawful purpose.

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Get familiar with instructions for authors

Be prepared, speed up your submission, and make sure nothing is forgotten by understanding a journal’s individual requirements.

Why choose open data?

Open data are encouraged or required by an increasing number of funders and publishers. (Sherpa-Juliet may help you find out whether your funder has an open data policy.) 

But even if you’re not mandated to, there’s a huge range of benefits that may convince you to make your data open.

Vector illustration of a closed blue padlock.

Benefits of open data include:

  • Other researchers can build upon your research and validate your results. This in turn boosts the credibility and robustness of your research, furthering your career. According to one study, research papers with available data can generate up to 25% more citations.

  • It’s easier for others to reproduce your work because the underlying data is made available to them. This also enhances the visibility of your work and provides opportunities for collaboration.

  • It improves research integrity since there is greater transparency in the research process.

  • It accelerates the pace of discovery and streamlines the research workflow.

  • It helps secure research grants by complying with funder and institution data policies as they are increasingly supporting open research practices.

  • It helps increase public trust in science and supports the wider research agenda.

  • It improves the public’s understanding of research together with the value it provides, and ultimately, open data enables better real-world impact from academic research.

How to make your data open

  1. Make sure there are no ethical issues with sharing your data.
    You should not violate the protection of human subjects, or other valid ethical, privacy, or security concerns.

  2. Select a suitable repository.
    Repositories are online platforms for researchers to deposit datasets associated with their work. There is a wide range of data repositories to choose from.

    Please read our guide to choosing a repository that’s relevant to your discipline and which will enable you to make your data open.

  3. Deposit your data and apply an open license.
    Your repository will usually ask you to select from a range of license choices to make your data available. 

    Choose an open license, such as CC BY or CC0, which will be added to the record for your dataset (its metadata). You can also add a license statement prominently within your dataset.

Choose open data with Taylor & Francis Group 

We encourage making your data open as a publishing option wherever you’re planning to submit your research article. However, some of our journals and platforms specifically require that the data underlying an article should be open: 

Taylor & Francis and Routledge journals

Before submitting to a journal please read the Instructions for Authors to check which data sharing policy it offers.  You will need to make sure you’ve deposited your data in a repository under an open license if your chosen journal has either of these policies:

  • Open data sharing policy: Authors must make their data freely available, under a license allowing reuse by any third party for any lawful purpose. Data shall be findable and fully accessible.

  • Open and FAIR data sharing policy: Authors must make their data freely available, under a license allowing re-use by any third party for any lawful purpose. Additionally, data shall meet with FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) standards as established in the relevant subject area.

Find out about how we’re working with the earth and space sciences research community to introduce an open and FAIR data policy across several of our journals.

F1000Research

The F1000Research open science platform also has an open data policy. Each article should include a citation to the repository hosting the data underlying results. Find out more in the F1000Research data guidelines

Advancing open data

We believe data should be open, reusable and accessible. Find out how we’re working with the research community.

Open data sharing policy

Find out more about our data sharing policies. Learn more on data availability requirements.

Open and FAIR data policy

This information is for authors submitting to a journal with open and FAIR sharing policy.