Despite the fact that clear guidelines on authorship of scientific papers have been published by the International Committee of Journal Editors, short term contract research workers are still disadvantaged in terms of career progression, rewards, and recognition. This happens even though these short-term contract workers are the ones that do most of the researches reported in the biomedical literature. This importance of short term researchers has led to the establishment of mechanisms that seek to improve their plight and solve their issues.
This text explores the different issues associated with the assignment of authorship. These issues include professional issues, operational issues and ethical issues. A case study of a university’s department of primary care is used to describe how it identified and responded to its research staff’s concerns on authorship. Also, the article analyzes various guidelines to be followed to handle the various professional and ethical issues that were brought up. The guidelines involve detailed directions describing ways of dealing with authorship negotiations and allocations, and instructions for short term researchers on how to begin developing as authors.
Structures that are needed to provide assistance for an equitable system are also described. These structures explore the requirements of short-term researchers and deals with them in a more realistic way especially since the world of research funding and publication has become increasingly competitive. The structures also offer a model that could be used to establish formal guidelines.
Collaborative Science and Authorship
Teamwork is an essential component in designing and implementing projects. This makes collaborations equally important in biomedical research worldwide (Endersby 380). It serves the purpose of bringing together researchers with diverse expertise to achieve specific research goals. Successful collaboration requires a clear definition of roles and responsibilities, joint commitments, effective communication between the researchers, a framework for evaluation, and most importantly a sense of direction and purpose.
One important aspect of collaborative ventures is the allocation of credit through authorship while planning for future publication. Clarity of roles and responsibilities is very important in drafting authorship agreements to reflect the contributions of all those involved in the research. This article gives case studies of circumstances where authorship disputes arose due to non-adherence to authorship agreements or failure to draft an authorship agreement at all. Authorship disputes can be solved by employing local mediation, involving program or scientific directors, and engaging the NIH Office of the Ombudsman.
Authorship Guidelines
Authorship can be described as a method of assignment of responsibility and allocation of credit for intellectual work. Disputes often arise regarding who should receive authorship credits for an intellectual work and in what order should the authors be listed (Newman and Jones 420). These disputes can have a detrimental effect on the good will, effectiveness and reputation of the parties involved. They usually arise due to misunderstandings and non-communication or poor communication among the collaborators.
This article, therefore, describes the various guidelines to be followed regarding the establishment of the authorship of a particular intellectual work, the order of authorship, and the implementation of these guidelines.
General Guidelines for Authorship Contributions
This text gives a more descriptive method of establishing who merits and who does not merit inclusion in the authorship of a research journal or work. It follows a table-like structure divided into three columns. The first column names the contributions of an individual in research. The second column gives a color variation as to whether the individual merits inclusion on authorship. One color signifies a “no” and the other color signifies a “yes.” The third column is a comment column that further explains why one would or would not deserve inclusion on authorship rights of an intellectual work.
Works Cited
Endersby, James W. "Collaborative research in the social sciences: Multiple authorship and publication credit." Social Science Quarterly (1996): 375-392.
Newman, A., and R. Jones. "Authorship of research papers: ethical and professional issues for short-term researchers." Journal of medical ethics 32.7 (2006): 420-423.
