The Editorial Reference Handbook: partnering with publishers to foster a culture of responsible data practices
Susanna-Assunta Sansone
(University of Oxford)
Rebecca Taylor-Grant
(Taylor and Francis)
Matthew Cannon
(Taylor Francis)
Allyson Lister
(University of Oxford)
Paper Short Abstract
Co-produced by academics and publishers (incl. CUP, Cell Press, EMBO Press, Taylor & Francis, GigaScience Press, OUP, PLOS, Springer Nature), the Handbook assists in-house editorial staff to operationalise a set of checks fostering good sharing data practices (https://publishers.fairassist.org).
Paper Abstract
A workshop with representatives of major publishers (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/TGUXZ, 2023) indicated that strengthening their journals’ data policies and training their in-house editorial staff were among the key priorities to improve the availability of data underpinning publications, and foster good practices for sharing data, ultimately advancing open research.
Fast forward two years, the Editorial Reference Handbook (https://publishers.fairassist.org) informs and assists journals to operationalise a set of checks necessary to make data more findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable. The Handbook complements existing work (e.g., to improve data policy and analyse the impact on journals of introducing Data Availability Statements) and fills a gap, because no common guidance existed on the practical implementation of these checks across a complex publishing workflow and the variety of individuals and teams who handle a manuscript.
Beside this practical product, the Handbook is also a socio-technical pilot to improve the culture by facilitating the practice and leading by example, influencing and informing other publishers and journals. The use of the Handbook is being piloted by a number of journals, and the ongoing intervention (set to end this summer) aims to document what may need to change or improve to successfully implement these checks in terms of in-house capability (e.g., needing more knowledge about how to run them), opportunity (e.g., needing support to apply them), and motivation (e.g., needing to prioritise them).
The work is part of the European TIER2 project (No 101094817).
Accepted Poster
Paper Short Abstract
Paper Abstract
A workshop with representatives of major publishers (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/TGUXZ, 2023) indicated that strengthening their journals’ data policies and training their in-house editorial staff were among the key priorities to improve the availability of data underpinning publications, and foster good practices for sharing data, ultimately advancing open research.
Fast forward two years, the Editorial Reference Handbook (https://publishers.fairassist.org) informs and assists journals to operationalise a set of checks necessary to make data more findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable. The Handbook complements existing work (e.g., to improve data policy and analyse the impact on journals of introducing Data Availability Statements) and fills a gap, because no common guidance existed on the practical implementation of these checks across a complex publishing workflow and the variety of individuals and teams who handle a manuscript.
Beside this practical product, the Handbook is also a socio-technical pilot to improve the culture by facilitating the practice and leading by example, influencing and informing other publishers and journals. The use of the Handbook is being piloted by a number of journals, and the ongoing intervention (set to end this summer) aims to document what may need to change or improve to successfully implement these checks in terms of in-house capability (e.g., needing more knowledge about how to run them), opportunity (e.g., needing support to apply them), and motivation (e.g., needing to prioritise them).
The work is part of the European TIER2 project (No 101094817).
Poster session
Session 1 Tuesday 1 July, 2025, -