Which statement is true regarding data sharing and stewardship?

The statement that researchers who receive federal funding may have to adhere to a data sharing requirement is accurate because funding agencies, particularly those at the federal level, often have policies that mandate or strongly encourage the sharing of research data. This is aimed at enhancing transparency, reproducibility, and collaboration within the scientific community. Federal funding bodies, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), typically have specific guidelines that outline expectations for data management and sharing, which researchers must follow to comply with the terms of their grant agreements.

This emphasis on data sharing aligns with broader initiatives to make scientific research more open and accessible, allowing other researchers to validate findings and build upon previous work. In contrast to other statements, the notion that all researchers must share their data publicly is too absolute and does not consider the specific contexts or exceptions that may arise in certain cases. Similarly, stating that data sharing is only required for private funding disregards the significant guidelines established by federal agencies. Finally, implying that data sharing is optional for all types of research neglects the growing movement towards data accessibility and transparency as best practices in scholarly research, especially for federally-funded projects.