Research Data during the peer review process

As part of the peer review process, many journals/publishers require proof of the underlying research data. The research data is often to be submitted together with the manuscript. In some cases, access to the data is also required during the peer review. The requirements of the journals/publishers can vary greatly. In the following you find step-by-step guides on how to meet these requirements.

Table of Contents

Publication of research data before peer review

• Publish your research data in the Research Collection. For more information, see Research data. 
• After the publication of an entry, it's generally no longer possible to replace uploaded full texts/datasets according to the terms of use of the Research Collection. 
• Publish a new version in the Research Collection if changes to your research data are necessary due to the peer review. Please note, that several versions of research data with larger data volume tie up the resources of ETH Zurich and the environment.

Research data in a FAIR repository with DOI, no access to the data required during peer review

• Use Reserving a DOI to create an entry for your research data and reserve a DOI.
• Send the reserved DOI to the journal/publisher as proof of the storage location of your data.
• After the peer review, publish your research data according to Add full texts/datasets.
• Alternative: Upload the data directly and choose an embargo for the entry. After the peer review, use the "Suggest edit / Report Duplicate" function to send a change request for the metadata field "Availability" in order to adjust the access rights.

Research data in a FAIR repository with DOI, access for peer review only

The research data should already be findable in a FAIR repository with a DOI, but data access is only possible for the reviewers durng peer review. Below you will find suggestions on how to proceed depending on the type of peer review.

Non-anonymized peer review (reviewers and authors are known to each other)

Research data up to 50 GB

• Create a new entry and choose between the access rights "Closed access" and "Embargoed access" (see Access rights). Your research data is deposited, but is not yet publicly accessible.
• Send the reserved DOI to the journal/publisher as proof of the storage location of your data.
• The reviewers can request access via a form. The request will be forwarded to you for approval and the reviewers will receive an access link to your data.
• After the peer review, use the "Suggest edit / Report Duplicate" function to send a change request for the metadata field "Availability" in order to adjust the access rights.
• Alternative: Make your research data available for the peer review via Polybox or similar. Use Reserving a DOI to create an entry for your data and reserve a DOI.

Research data of more than 50 GB

• Use Reserving a DOI to create an entry for your research data and reserve a DOI.
• Click on the "Upload large data volumes (files > 10 GB, items > 50 GB total)" checkbox (see Upload instructions libdrive)
• Please let us know that you need a (password protected) share link for the directory on libdrive for the peer review. Contact us via research-collection@library.ethz.ch.
• Upload your research data to libdrive.
• Send the (password protected) share link to the journal/publisher.
• After the peer review, let us know that your libdrive entry can be published.

Single-blind peer review (reviewers are unknown to the authors)

Research data up to 50 GB

• Create a share link for your research data via Polybox or similar.
• Use Reserving a DOI to create an entry for your research data and reserve a DOI.
• Send the share link from Polybox or similar to the journal/publisher.
• After the peer review, publish your research data according to Add full texts/datasets.

Does the data need to be in a FAIR repository?
Please consider using another FAIR repository (see also https://unlimited.ethz.ch/x/qx5kF). There is no option in the Research Collection to create a shared link for non-public data while preserving the anonymity of the reviewer.

Research data of more than 50 GB

• Use Reserving a DOI to create an entry for your research data and reserve a DOI.
• Click on the "Upload large data volumes (files > 10 GB, items > 50 GB total)" checkbox (see Upload instructions libdrive)
• Please let us know that you need a (password protected) share link for the directory on libdrive for the peer review. Contact us via research-collection@library.ethz.ch.
• Upload your research data to libdrive.
• Send the (password protected) share link to the journal/publisher.
• After the peer review, let us know that your libdrive entry can be published.

Double-blind peer review (reviewers and authors are unknown to each other)

Research data up to 50 GB

• Create a share link for your research data via Polybox or similar.
• Use Reserving a DOI to create an entry for your research data and reserve a DOI.
• Send the share link from Polybox or similar and the reserved DOI to the journal/publisher.
• Please note as a restriction, the affiliation to ETH Zurich is indicated in the DOI.
• After the peer review, publish your research data according to Add full texts/datasets.

Does the data need to be in a FAIR repository, and should the institutional affiliation not be visible?
Please consider using another FAIR repository (see also https://unlimited.ethz.ch/x/qx5kF). There is no option to publish research data for double-blind peer review, i.e. while fully maintaining the anonymity of both parties, in the Research Collection.  

Research data of more than 50 GB

• Use Reserving a DOI to create an entry for your research data and reserve a DOI.
• Click on the "Upload large data volumes (files > 10 GB, items > 50 GB total)" checkbox (see Upload instructions libdrive)
• Please let us know that you need a (password protected) share link for the directory on libdrive for the peer review. Contact us via research-collection@library.ethz.ch.
• Upload your research data to libdrive.
• Send the (password protected) share link and the reserved DOI to the journal/publisher.
• Please note as a restriction, the affiliation to ETH Zurich is indicated in the DOI and in the shared link.
• After the peer review, let us know that your libdrive entry can be published.

Does the data need to be in a FAIR repository, and should the institutional affiliation not be visible?
Please consider using another FAIR repository (see also https://unlimited.ethz.ch/x/qx5kF). There is no option to publish research data for double-blind peer review, i.e. while fully maintaining the anonymity of both parties, in the Research Collection.

If none of these options meet your needs, please contact us by e-mail: research-collection@library.ethz.ch. We will be happy to explore other possible options with you.