Datasets as articles?

[rlifset]

In previous discussions about data-related articles we have focused on the requirements for data descriptor articles. My recollection is that a data descriptor does not have to include a dataset. Is that what everyone else remembers?

In a related vein, have we decided whether datasets alone can be published as an article?

[nheeren]

In my opinion the whole point is about valorising data. That mens we want to give authors an incentive to make their data available publicly. One good incentive is to offer them potential citations by providing the data along with an article that explains the data in detail and offers some validation, etc. Therefore, my answer to this question would be: No, datasets cannot be published alone. We require both, an article, and a properly deposited dataset.

Personally, I think we can learn a lot from the Data Descriptor articles of Nature Scientific Data: https://www.nature.com/sdata/publish/for-authors