The International Journal of Psychology and Therapy (IJPT) is committed to promoting transparency, reproducibility, and integrity in scholarly research through a clear and robust Data Availability Policy. In alignment with international best practices and the expectations of indexing systems such as Scopus and the Web of Science, the journal encourages authors to make the data underlying their research openly accessible wherever possible. This policy supports the principles of open science by facilitating verification of results, enabling replication studies, and fostering broader collaboration within the academic community.

Purpose and Scope

The primary objective of this policy is to ensure that the data supporting published findings are available to readers, reviewers, and other researchers in a manner that enhances the credibility and reliability of the research. This policy applies to all empirical studies submitted to IJPT, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method research. Authors are expected to provide clear statements regarding the availability of data used in their study.

Data Availability Statement Requirement

All manuscripts submitted to IJPT must include a dedicated “Data Availability Statement” within the manuscript. This statement should specify whether the data are publicly available, available upon reasonable request, or restricted due to ethical, legal, or confidentiality considerations. The statement must clearly indicate where and how the data can be accessed, including links to repositories or contact information where applicable. Example statements include:

• “The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available in the [repository name] at [DOI/link].”
• “The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.”
• “The data are not publicly available due to ethical restrictions involving participant confidentiality.”

Data Sharing and Repositories

IJPT encourages authors to deposit their datasets in recognised, secure, and publicly accessible repositories such as institutional repositories, subject-specific archives, or general data repositories. Authors are advised to provide persistent identifiers (e.g., DOI) to ensure long-term accessibility. Where possible, datasets should be accompanied by adequate documentation, including codebooks, methodological details, and metadata, to facilitate reuse and replication.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

While promoting openness, IJPT acknowledges that certain data may be subject to ethical, legal, or privacy constraints. In studies involving human participants, authors must ensure that data sharing complies with ethical approvals, informed consent agreements, and applicable data protection regulations. Sensitive or confidential data should be anonymised before sharing, and restrictions must be clearly justified in the Data Availability Statement.

Data Integrity and Reproducibility

Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of the data associated with their research. The availability of data enhances reproducibility and allows independent verification of results, which is a cornerstone of scientific credibility. IJPT encourages the sharing of analytical code, software scripts, and supplementary materials alongside datasets to further support reproducibility.

Editorial and Review Considerations

Editors and reviewers may request access to underlying data during the peer review process to verify the validity of the research. Authors are expected to comply with such requests, provided that confidentiality and ethical considerations are maintained. Failure to provide data when requested may affect the editorial decision.

Commitment to Open Science

Through this policy, IJPT reinforces its commitment to open science practices and responsible research dissemination. By encouraging transparent data sharing, the journal enhances the visibility, impact, and credibility of published research, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in psychology and technology.