All research papers should tell the reader how the underlying data can be accessed, either in a "data access statement" in the acknowledgements or with a simple citation. This is mandatory if you have funding from bodies such as RCUK councils or the EC. You must include a statement even if your data isn’t publicly accessible or you didn’t create new data. (Wondering why statements are needed? We discuss the reasoning in our blog post on data statements.)
The simplest way to comply
Put your data file(s) on CORD, our institutional data repository (see Using CORD for guidance) – you can reserve a DOI for your dataset without making it public, saving your record as a draft.
Use this DOI in a data access statement saying: "Data underlying this study can be accessed through the Cranfield University repository at https://doi.org/10.17862..." appending the URL with the DOI you have reserved for your record). Or, you can just cite this record in your references.
Don’t forget to publish your dataset when your article is published! While your data on CORD is draft, the URL in the data statement won’t take people to the data, but if the peer reviewers ask to see it, it can be shared using the ‘private link’ option.
Watch our "5 steps to compliance with RCUK research data policy" summary video (2min43):
Please note that if you do need to restrict access, a CORD record is usually still required to describe the data and restriction. Contact the Research Data Manager to discuss your needs and with any questions on data deposits or data statements.