A number of publishers and funders, including PLOS, have recently adopted policies requiring researchers to share the data underlying their results and publications. Such policies help increase the reproducibility of the published literature, as well as make a larger body of data available for reuse and re-analysis. In this study, we evaluate the extent to which authors have complied with this policy by analyzing Data Availability Statements from 47,593 papers published in PLOS ONE between March 2014 (when the policy went into effect) and May 2016. Our analysis shows that compliance with the policy has increased, with a significant decline over time in papers that did not include a Data Availability Statement. However, only about 20% of statements indicate that data are deposited in a repository, which the PLOS policy states is the preferred method. More commonly, authors state that their data are in the paper itself or in the supplemental information, though it is unclear whether these data meet the level of sharing required in the PLOS policy. These findings suggest that additional review of Data Availability Statements or more stringent policies may be needed to increase data sharing.

This resource links to the full course (all 13 weeks of modules) on the Internet Archive. The video lectures for the courses are also available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maRP_Wvc4eY&list=PLWYwQdaelu4en5MZ0bbg-rSpcfb64O_rd

This series was designed and taught by Chris Belter, Ya-Ling Lu, and Candace Norton at the NIH Library. It was originally presented in weekly installments to NIH Library staff from January-May 2019 and adapted for web viewing later the same year.

The goal of the series is to provide free, on-demand training on how we do bibliometrics for research evaluation. Although demand for bibliometric indicators and analyses in research evaluation is growing, broadly available and easily accessible, training on how to provide those analyses is scarce. We have been providing bibliometric services for years, and we wanted to share our experience with others to facilitate the broader adoption of accurate and responsible bibliometric practice in research assessment. We hope this series acts as a springboard for others to get started with bibliometrics so that they feel more comfortable moving beyond this series on their own.

Navigating the Series
The training series consists of 13 individual courses, organized into 7 thematic areas. Links to each course in the series are provided on the left. Each course includes a training video with audio transcription, supplemental reading to reinforce the concepts introduced in the course, and optional practice exercises.

We recommend that the courses be viewed in the order in which they are listed. The courses are listed in the same order as the analyses that we typically perform to produce one of our standard reports. Many of the courses also build on concepts introduced in previous courses, and may be difficult to understand if viewed out of order. We also recommend that the series be taken over the course of 13 consecutive weeks, viewing one course per week. A lot is covered in these courses, so it is a good idea to take your time with them to make sure you understand each course before moving on to the next. We also recommend you try to complete the practice exercises that accompany many of the courses, because the best way to learn bibliometrics is by doing it.