Data & Documentation
O.G IJRIS promotes responsible research data management, accurate documentation, appropriate preservation and transparent reporting so that scholarly claims can be understood, assessed and, where appropriate, verified.
Reliable research depends on reliable records
Research data and documentation form the evidentiary foundation of scholarly work. Appropriate records help researchers understand how evidence was collected, processed, analysed and interpreted.
O.G IJRIS therefore expects researchers to maintain documentation that is sufficiently clear, accurate, organised and protected to support responsible research practice. Requirements may vary according to discipline, methodology, applicable law, institutional requirements and the nature of the research.
Six foundations of responsible data management
These principles support trustworthy research records from collection through preservation and appropriate sharing.
Accuracy
Data and documentation should be recorded and reported as accurately as reasonably possible.
Completeness
Material information needed to understand the research process should not be unnecessarily omitted.
Traceability
Important data transformations, methodological changes and analytical decisions should be traceable.
Security
Research data should be protected against unauthorised access, loss, alteration or inappropriate disclosure.
Preservation
Appropriate records should be retained for a reasonable period consistent with relevant requirements.
Responsible Access
Data should be shared or accessed according to ethical, legal, contractual and academic requirements.
Data should be managed across its entire lifecycle
Responsible documentation does not begin when a manuscript is written. It begins with research planning.
Plan
Identify data needs, responsibilities, safeguards and documentation requirements.
Collect
Gather data using appropriate and documented procedures.
Process
Record material cleaning, transformation and processing decisions.
Analyse
Preserve relevant analytical methods, assumptions and outputs.
Report
Present evidence and limitations accurately and transparently.
Preserve
Retain appropriate records and protect the research history.
A research record should tell the story of the work
Research Design & Methods
Research questions, protocols, instruments, methodological decisions and material changes should be appropriately documented.
Source Data
Where appropriate, preserve the original or source information from which analyses and conclusions were developed.
Data Processing
Material cleaning, coding, transformation, exclusion and preparation decisions should be traceable.
Analysis & Calculations
Relevant analytical procedures, models, calculations and assumptions should be appropriately recorded.
Versions & Revisions
Important revisions should be identifiable where necessary to preserve an accurate research history.
Supporting Materials
Relevant instruments, codebooks, protocols, supplementary files or other supporting materials should be preserved where appropriate.
Good documentation supports credible conclusions
Data quality is part of research quality
Researchers should take reasonable steps to identify errors, inconsistencies, missing information and limitations that may affect interpretation. Data quality does not require perfection; it requires responsible recognition, documentation and handling of material limitations.
Protecting research information
Appropriate safeguards should be applied to research data, particularly where information is confidential, sensitive, commercially restricted or associated with identifiable individuals.
Transparency must be balanced with responsible access
O.G IJRIS supports appropriate transparency while recognising privacy, confidentiality, intellectual property, contractual, legal and ethical restrictions.
Open Where Appropriate
Researchers should consider whether supporting data or materials can responsibly be made available when doing so is appropriate and permitted.
Restricted Where Necessary
Data should not be disclosed simply in the name of transparency where disclosure could violate privacy, confidentiality or other legitimate restrictions.
Explain Limitations
Where data or materials cannot be shared, researchers should provide an appropriate explanation where possible.
AI, Digital Tools & Research Data
The use of artificial intelligence and digital tools does not remove the researcher's responsibility for data quality, confidentiality, accuracy or documentation. Researchers should understand how tools are used and verify outputs before relying upon them.
Before submitting research, ask:
From research activity to a defensible record
Identify
Determine what data and records are material to the research.
Record
Capture relevant information accurately and consistently.
Verify
Check important records for errors and inconsistencies.
Protect
Apply appropriate security and access controls.
Preserve
Retain appropriate records and supporting materials.
Disclose
Share or explain access to data responsibly where appropriate.
Our Commitment to Data & Documentation
O.G IJRIS is committed to a research environment in which data are handled responsibly, documentation supports accountability, evidence remains traceable, and the scholarly record is protected through accuracy, transparency and professional responsibility.