Availability statement
Include a statement describing where the data, code and supporting materials can be accessed, or why access is restricted. Use a durable repository and persistent identifiers where feasible. The statement should identify the exact version used in the analysis and explain any registration, license or controlled-access requirement.
Reproducible methods
Describe database versions, retrieval dates, search strategies, affiliation matching, cleaning, normalization and analytical decisions. Ranking research should disclose indicator weights, aggregation, treatment of missing values, cohort selection and sensitivity analyses. A simulation should separate simulated observations from real-world measurements.
- State software and relevant package versions.
- Document transformations and exclusions.
- Explain denominator and field-normalization choices.
- Report uncertainty and robustness checks where appropriate.
Restricted and personal data
Do not make confidential or personal data public merely to satisfy a sharing preference. Explain restrictions and provide a lawful access process or suitable aggregated material where possible. Editors may request additional material privately for assessment without implying permission to redistribute it.