Dryad: The University of Arkansas Data Repository

This guide will provide information on our data repository system as well as guidelines for community use

Tips

  • Dryad accepts all file formats, although it is good practice to share data using open formats.
  • Any data submitted will be published under the CC0 license.  Dryad does not support other licenses,  Supplementary materials may be loaded simultaneously in Zenodo where additional licenses are available.  Dryad does not support restrictions on data access or use - but does support journal data review.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure your data are being shared responsibly and ethically. Please be careful about sharing sensitive data and ensure you are complying with institutional and governmental regulations.
  • When preparing your complete version of a dataset, remember to collate all relevant explanatory documents and metadata. This includes relevant documentation necessary for the re-use and replication of your dataset (e.g. readme.txt files, formal metadata records, or other critical information).

For further assistance , consult the FAQ or contact Dryad at help@datadryad.org.

Preparing your Deposit

Preparing your data

Data publishing includes describing and organizing your data in a way that makes it accessible and reusable. We recommend including descriptive names for file names and table headings, and a logical file organization.

Assemble all data files together. Where possible, data should be shared in an open file format so that proprietary software is not required to view or use the files.

  • All files should be able to be opened without any passcode restrictions.
  • All information needs to be in English.
  • No Personal Health Information or sensitive data can be included..
  • Files must not contain any copyright restrictions.

 

README Files

You will be asked to create a documentation file describing your data files’ content and organization, which will serve as the main source of information for users of your dataset. Your README can be created onscreen using the provided template, or if you have already created a README in markdown format, you may upload your file into the README editor.

 

Timing your submission

Data may be submitted and published at any time. However, if your data are associated with a journal publication, there may be special considerations:

  • If you received an invitation from a journal to submit data to Dryad, then that journal has integrated its submission process with Dryad. Please follow the instructions from the journal.
  • Dryad usually does not grant short- or long-term embargoes of data, but will consider requests in specific instances (i.e., graduate students publishing thesis data that they intend to use for other parts of their thesis/dissertation; media blackouts around a study). If you wish to embargo data beyond the publication date of the associated article, Dryad  requires confirmation from the publishing journal. 
  • Regardless of journal, you may choose to make your data temporarily private for peer review.

Step # 2 - Describing your Data

Describe your dataset

You will first be asked to enter required metadata (information about your data).  These include: Journal name, title, author and affiliation (drawn by  ROR ), abstract, research domain (as defined by the OECD Fields of Science and Technology), and keywords. In addition it is recommended that you add the funding information, research facility if different from your current facility, methods and related works.

Our duplicate submission detector will scan the first four words of the dataset title and, if those words match an existing dataset linked to the same submitting author, a pop-up will appear on the final page of the submission form to warn of a potential identical submission. If there is no risk of duplication, you can bypass the warning and proceed.

Prepare a README

You will be asked to create a documentation file describing your data files’ content and organization, which will serve as the main source of information for users of your dataset. Your README can be created onscreen using the provided template, or if you have already created a README in markdown format, you may upload your file into the README editor.

If you wish to provide additional documentation or README files in other formats, those can be uploaded along with your dataset files on the next screen.