Toby Green, We Need Publishing Standards for Datasets and Data Tables, OECD Publishing White Paper, April 20, 2009. A proposal for citing datasets. Green argues that improving citations will improve access, but generally leaves access issues for others. Nevertheless, he makes these two points along the way:
...According to a recent ALPSP report on scholarly publishing practice, 45% of journal publishers said they provided access to data sets associated with the journal articles they publish1. Since 160 publishers replied to this question, this means that at least 72 journal publishers report they are handling data....
Proof that readers want to access underlying data
OECD launched a service called StatLinks in 2004. The concept is simple. Under each table, chart and graph appearing in an article or book chapter, a DOI (Digital Object Identifier1) link is printed alongside the traditional "Source" legend. By following the DOI link, readers are able to download a spreadsheet containing the data used to create the table, chart or graph.
By 2008, OECD had put 20,000 StatLinks into its publications and in 2008 alone, 980,381 spreadsheet files were downloaded. Proof, if it were needed, that readers do take the chance to get hold of original data when it's offered....
Posted by
Peter Suber at 4/21/2009 02:23:00 PM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
I recommend the OA tracking project (OATP) as the best way to stay on top of new OA developments. You can read the OATP feed on a blog-like web page or subscribe to it by RSS, email, or Twitter. You can also help build the feed by tagging new developments you encounter.
