Fiona Murphy explains that more journals are developing data policies for publication, which can seem daunting—especially for early career researchers.

Data policies help track funded outputs and improve scientific reproducibility, transparency, and provenance. Publishers and research communities are responding to high-profile scandals by standardizing these policies. The Research Data Alliance has developed a framework to support journals and publishers in formulating and enforcing data policies. Researchers should research journal data policies before submission, understand requirements, and ask for clarification when needed.

Although navigating journal data policies may be time consuming, they strengthen the scholarly record and improve the trustworthiness of research. Early preparation and clear understanding of these policies can help researchers manage their data effectively and enhance the impact of their work.