Publications Ethics – Authorship Issues

by Carin Andersson

Carin Andersson, 
Research Professor, Norway

A few years ago, I was asked to live on purpose of a modest grouping to educate inquiry ethical guidelines for my domicile institution. For the commencement time, I had to travel into depth of the diverse components of inquiry ethics in addition to the topics that nosotros addressed were many. We read in addition to discussed guidelines for scientific dishonesty, protection of people in addition to animals involved inward research, protection of the environment, contract-based research, proficient inquiry practice, equally good equally publishing, writing, in addition to co-authorship. I started to live on invited to rate presentations on inquiry ethics, in addition to it apace became clear that the audience was primarily interested inward issues related to publication ethics, inward detail matters concerning authorship. The topic of authorship sparked corking involvement alongside both early-career in addition to to a greater extent than experienced researchers. It also became clear that things had non improved much since I was a Ph.D. student. The early-career scientists today seem to live on working out of the same by in addition to large pathetic noesis of existing guidelines concerning authorship issues, equally create the to a greater extent than experienced researchers.

Publishing our inquiry is key for our careers, in addition to it is slow to larn into conflicts concerning authorship issues. More oft than not, it seems, people tend to either non know these recommendations good plenty or non utilisation them. Early-career researchers are also particularly at risk. It is hard to fence with, perchance senior, scientists if yous create non stimulate got the background noesis in addition to tools yous demand for such a discussion. To live on inward a conflict with your advisor or other people yous are working closely together with tin live on real challenging. The outcome of non having their advert on a publication, or losing the commencement authorship, is oft to a greater extent than meaning for the early-career scientist than it is for the to a greater extent than experienced researchers. Scientists are inward full general evaluated against the number of publications, equally good equally where inward the ordered listing of authors they seem in, during the hiring decision. For early-career scientists the number of publications and, inward particular, the number of commencement writer publications they stimulate got on their publication list, becomes essential inward the oft competitive task market.





So, when are yous an author?

There are several sets of publication ethical guidelines out there, simply I intend it is safe to state that most of us (check with your domicile institution) should follow the recommendations set downwards past times the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), i.e., “Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, in addition to Publication of Scholarly Work inward Medical Journals”. Many institutions create follow these recommendations in addition to it is useful to know them. These recommendations are also known equally the “Vancouver rules”, equally a grouping of editors met inward Vancouver inward 1978 to write the commencement recommendations. The recommendations stimulate got been updated several times since they were written, most lately inward Dec 2018. One of the issues that these recommendations comprehend is the definition of the purpose of authors in addition to contributors, in addition to this is where the prophylactic meets the road.

The ICMJE recommends that authorship is based on 4 criteria:

• Substantial contributions to the invention or pattern of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of information for the work; AND
• Drafting the run or revising it critically for of import intellectual content; AND
• Final approving of the version to live on published; AND
• Agreement to live on accountable for all aspects of the run inward ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of whatsoever purpose of the run are appropriately investigated in addition to resolved.

However, most people seem to stimulate got entirely heard most the commencement criteria. It is non common that the commencement writer argues inward an authorship conflict that “I don´t intend yous stimulate got contributed substantially (or significantly) enough”. Addressing entirely the commencement criteria is, of course, wrong, simply it is also non the privilege of the commencement writer to position who is an writer in addition to who is not. According to the recommendations, it is the persons conducting the run that are responsible for determining who meets these criteria. Preferably this should start early on inward a projection when planning the work. The recommendations farther nation that: “In add-on to existence accountable for the parts of the run he or she has done, an writer should live on able to position which co-authors are responsible for specific other parts of the work. In addition, authors should stimulate got confidence inward the integrity of the contributions of their co-authors.” This is a real of import purpose of the recommendation equally most people seem to see authorship equally to a greater extent than or less type of vantage or compensation for their “substantial contribution” to the work. An writer takes responsibleness for a specific purpose of the newspaper equally good equally for the integrity of the newspaper equally a whole. Authorship condition is given to those who deserve credit in addition to accept responsibleness for the work.

What tin I create to avoid problems?

Over the recent few years, I stimulate got had a meaning number of “cases” explained to me past times both early-career in addition to to a greater extent than experienced researchers. Typical for most of these cases is that the people involved create non know the electrical flow recommendations and, higher upward anything else, at that topographic point was picayune or no communication concerning authorship alongside the researcher doing the work. The give-and-take should start early, equally before long equally at that topographic point is an inkling that what yous are doing/discussing with other scientists may educate into a paper. Make certain everybody is on board, i.e., review the guidelines yous are following. Discuss who volition accept on the purpose equally commencement writer in addition to co-authors. It is non odd to add together co-authors along the means equally the run progresses, in addition to then re-evaluate in addition to travel on the recommendation inward take away heed equally the run advances. Also, verbalize over what yous create with those who create non come across all 4 criteria simply should withal live on regarded equally contributors in addition to acknowledged. Those should of course of teaching also live on purpose of the give-and-take in addition to know what is going on. Not involving contributors plenty is a mutual error that may apace final result inward conflicts. Do non brand “assumptions” concerning your ain or others involvement. Communication is key.





What tin I create if I am inward an authorship conflict?

Should I contact the mag to settle authorship disputes? No, yous should not. According to the recommendations, it is the responsibleness of the researchers involved inward the run to brand certain that all named writer come across all 4 criteria. Most conflicts are avoided if the recommendations are followed. However, if yous still, afterwards trying to solve the conflict inside the grouping of scientists involved inward the work, uncovering yourself inward this type of conflict, yous should contact the institution(s) where the run was performed in addition to inquire them to investigate. Many institutions stimulate got a inquiry ethics committee, in addition to yous should contact members of this committee.

Carin Andersson, Ph.D.
Researcher I (Research Professor), NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway

If yous stimulate got questions or comments concerning Carin's post, delight travel out a comment below, or ship her an email. You tin also connect with her on Twitter in addition to follow her inquiry on ResearchGate.