Chapter 6

Question 1

When should decisions about coauthorships be made?

Answer 1

Early on in the research process.

Question 2

What do good coauthors do?

Answer 2

1) Adhere to the highest ethical and professional standards
2) Ask alot of questions
3) Pay attention to details
4) Provide valuable feedback
5) Committed to developing their technical writing skills
6) Disclose conflicts of interest
7) Accept responsibility for their contributions and for the whole project
8) Treat all members with respect
9) Respond quickly and never miss a deadline.

Question 3

Most researchers serve as middle coauthors before moving into a lead author role for the first time. What does “middle coauthors” mean?

Answer 3

Ones who are not listed first or last in the order of coauthors

Question 4

Anyone who is contributing and wants to be considered for inclusion in the coauthor list should do what?

Answer 4

Have a conversation with the lead author as early as possible in the research process so that roles and responsibilities can be clarified.

Question 5

Who constructs the list of coauthors? What is the list based on?

Answer 5

The lead author; widely accepted disciplinary standards.

Question 6

True or false;

All decisions about coauthorship should be transparent and communicated to potential coauthors only.

Answer 6

False; All decisions about coauthorship should be transparent and communicated to potential coauthors and those who will be acknowledged, but not considered coauthors.

Question 7

Which committee has established critera for coauthorship?

Answer 7

The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)

Question 8

To earn coauthorship, a researcher must meet all four of the following conditions:

Answer 8

1) Making substantial contributions to conception and design of the study and/or data collection, analysis, or interpretation
2) Drafting the article and/or providing critical revisions of intellectual content
3) Approving the final version of the article that is submitted and published
4) Accepting responsibility for the integrity of the paper

Question 9

True or false:

Participating in design, conduct, and analysis is sufficient to earn authorship.

Answer 9

False; it also requires participation of writing the report.

Question 10

A manuscript should not be submitted to a journal until all the coauthors have done what?

Answer 10

Consented to the submission and agreed to accept responsibility for the integrity of their contributions.

Question 11

What are ghost authorships? Are they allowed?

Answer 11

Someone who makes a substantial intellectual contribution is not appropriately recognized; no it’s not allowed.

Question 12

What is a gift authorship; is it allowed?

Answer 12

When someone is given honorary coauthorship without having significantly contributed to the work; no it’s not allowed.

Question 13

Anyone who contributes to a paper but does not meet the coauthorship requirements should be:

Answer 13

Named in the acknowledgments section, NOT added to the list of coauthors.

Question 14

Usually, who is listed as the first author?

Answer 14

The lead author (involved in most of the writing) OR the person who does most of the writing.

Question 15

If there is any doubt about who should be the first author, what should be done?

Answer 15

There should be a consultation with all of the people who took a major role in conducting the study to decide who the first author should be.

Question 16

How are the remaining authors listed?

Answer 16

In order of contribution (Time dedicated + intellectual contribution)

Question 17

When many coauthors are involved and it becomes difficult to quantify the relative contributions of authors, what should be done?

Answer 17

They should be consulted about their preferences, BUT the best solution is to list them in alphabetical order.

Question 18

What is the one exception to the rule about listing authors in order of contribution?

Answer 18

The senior author is often listed as the last author even if he was heavily involved in the process.

Question 19

What are the roles of the senior author?

Answer 19

1) Provides clarity, direction, and feedback
2) Serves a mediator
3) Provides insight into disciplinary standards
4) Prevents or resolves many of the issues that might befuddle a newer researcher

Question 20

What should be done ahead of time in order to avoid last-minute debates over which individuals have made important contributions to a research project?

Answer 20

Deciding what the roles and responsibilities of each member of the team are and how they will earn coauthorship.

Question 21

The lead researcher should check with each contributor about expectations so that there will be no surprises about coauthorship. When should this conversation take place?

Answer 21

Before anyone begins work on project-related tasks.

Question 22

What is an important metric of success in the sciences and academia?

Answer 22

Publications

Question 23

What is usually the only reward for the time and effort put into a research project?

Answer 23

Authorship.

Question 24

Some journals require a description of what each coauthor did. What might be helpful to do?

Answer 24

To write a statement about what each person will do BEFORE writing any other part of the paper.

Question 25

If circumstances cause change to the expected contributors, what needs to be done?

Answer 25

Everyone needs to be informed and consulted of this change.

Question 26

If coauthors have any concerns, who should they speak to first?

Answer 26

The lead author

Question 27

Any disputes over authorship or the order of authorship should be referred back to who?

Answer 27

The senior researcher. (The ICMJE guidelines, relevent professional societies, and/or the target journal may also be helpful)