Researchers failing to make raw data public Adherence to data-sharing policies is as inconsistent as the policies themselves.
Scientists are failing to make raw data publicly available, even when prompted to do so by journals, says a study published last week inPLoS ONE 1.
The study of 500 papers from the 50 highest-impact journals reveals wide variation in data-sharing policies and in researchers' adherence to them. The findings come amid a growing push for sharing raw research data — both to facilitate further research and to better prevent fraud or error.