Chapter 6: Replication

This chapter addresses the issues of handling replication materials in the social sciences, such as data, metadata, and code.  The focus is on the role that data repositories can play in supporting researchers, as well as scientific journals and publishers. The aim is to highlight the benefits of handling replication for open science, researchers, journals and CESSDA Service Providers. 

The first section introduces the topic of replication. The next three sections address the relationships among journals, archives, and researchers when it comes to dealing with the data and materials used in publications, including the benefits that come from collaboration. It covers aspects such as procedures, policies, and practices applied by data archives when handling such material. Finally, examples are provided that illustrate how three different data archives approach replication, including how they handle policies, workflow, and access to materials.

 The information contained in this chapter was gathered and presented by experts from various CESSDA social science data archives and reflects the procedures and policies at a national level.  The chapter is instructive for data archives that already accept data and materials linked to publications, as well as for those that are considering doing so.