Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. Does ESSD publish data?
   No. ESSD publishes journal articles describing research data published in a research data repository.
2. Which repository should I choose?
   Ideally one tailored to the community of expected users. There are no one-size fits all solutions, however basic requirements are listed in the ESSD repository criteria.
3. Do I need my data available in the selected repository upon submission?
   Yes. Presentation, long term preservation, accessibility, and metadata are key criteria and are assessed during review. Therefore, the target repository must have been determined, upon submission. The data must be ready for review at that repository, upon submission.
4. In addition to the above, do I also need a functional data DOI upon submission?
   No. In fact, ESSD encourages you to select a repository that provides temporary links (data-in-review links) before registering a DOI. Make use of those temporary links for the time of review and only register the final data DOI with the same repository upon acceptance, after the review of your manuscript and data has concluded.
5. Do I need a registered data DOI upon acceptance of a manuscript?
   Yes. A functional data DOI is a precondition for ESSD journal publication, it is not mandatory for initial submission and review, see above.
6. Can I share data for review through mechanism A (e.g. private links), but eventually publish the data in repository B upon acceptance?
   No. Upon submission, data must reside at the selected repository, see above.
7. Can I share the data through cloud storage outside of a research data repository?
   No.
8. What is a data-in-review link?
   Data-in-review or simply review links are anonymous links to your data, enabling access directly at your selected repository. Reviewers, editors and participants in the public discussion can use them to access and review your data. Please contact your repository to find out more.
9. Who needs access to the data at the repository, during the public peer review?
   Principally anyone who wishes to participate in the public review process. Reviewers and editors need anonymous, unmitigated access to your data, directly at the repository. The public potentially needs access to the data as well, although not necessarily anonymous. ESSD provides mechanisms to share access links or anonymous logins only with reviewers and editors. Access mechanisms to the repository for the public (e.g. registrations, email requests, etc.), if different from access for reviewers/editors, need to be described in the Data Availability Section of your manuscript.
10. What is a data citation and why do I need it?
    A data citation employs the same mechanisms of credit and recognition as a traditional journal citation. To promote the recognition of data as a primary output of research, ESSD requires that you properly cite the data you describe. If unsure, ask your repository for the citation of your dataset.
11. What data license does ESSD accept?
    
    • CC BY 4.0 or equivalent.
    • CC 0 or equivalent.
12. What data license does ESSD not accept?
    
    • CC BY SA 4.0 or equivalent (e.g. ODbL).
    • CC BY ND or equivalent.
    • Non-commercial licenses such as CC BY NC or equivalent are considered only under exceptionable circumstances subject to prior approval by the editorial team.
13. Why do I need to cite the data in the abstract of the accepted manuscript?
    ESSD distributes your article through a variety of indexing services to disseminate your research data as wide as possible. Some of those indexing services may only show abstracts of your article. To give interested readers quick and direct access to your data, the abstract should include the DOI and data citation.
14. I have multiple data DOIs. Do I need to list and cite all of them?
    If your data product has multiple data DOIs that you actively discuss in the article then yes, they should all be referenced as appropriate. You may list up to 5 DOIs in the abstract and data availability section as usual. More than 5 DOIs should be compiled into a dedicated table.
15. What is a Living Data article and is my manuscript eligible?
    Likely no. Living Data articles are regular data description articles dealing with data that expand and evolve on a regular basis. Authors may wish to publish regularly publish updates, outlining additional parameters, new use cases, and novel value. Expanding a timeseries by some years generally does not qualify. If you feel your data product may fit this description, please contact the ESSD editorial team.