Dear Dr. Santiago-Blay, Thank you for raising a tricky but interesting topic. This is a grand old problem! In 1991, Roderick Hunt of the Sheffield University introduced an index, namely “Hunt’s index” to address this issue that was published in Nature (Hunt, R. 1991. Trying an authorship index. Nature, 352: 187).
According to Hunt’s index, your student can get some score under “Practical Input: data-capture”. Well, that does not mean whether he/she becomes automatically eligible to earn a co-authorship which should depend on the type of the project. In a case of Master thesis type project, a graduate student collects data to fulfil the requirement for getting the title of the Master degree by submitting a thesis to pass the final exam. He or she should only be entitled to get authorship if he/she contributes significantly to data management, follow-up analysis and writing of the paper later on. Finally, he/she should agree with the content of the manuscript. In this case, you should inform the student about the proposed manuscript and the student should contribute to the manuscript to earn the co-authorship. If the student is not reachable, then please put his name in the acknowledgement section of the manuscript. This is my opinion on this topic, and it may help you to take a decision. With kind regards, Somidh On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 10:28 AM, Somidh Saha <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Dr. Santiago-Blay, > > Thank you for raising a tricky but interesting topic. This is a grand > old problem! In 1991, Roderick Hunt of the Sheffield University > introduced an index, namely “Hunt’s index” to address this issue that > was published in Nature (Hunt, R. 1991. Trying an authorship index. > Nature, 352: 187). I have attached this publication. > > According to Hunt’s index, your student can get some score at least > under “Practical Input: data-capture”. Well, it does not mean the > student becomes automatically eligible to earn a co-authorship which > should depend on the type of the project and level of contribution. In > a case of Master thesis type project, a graduate student collects data > to fulfil the requirement for getting the title of the Master degree > by submitting a thesis to pass the final exam. He or she should only > be entitled to get authorship if he/she contributes significantly to > data management, follow-up analysis and writing of the paper later on. > Finally, he/she should agree with the content of the manuscript as > well. > > In this case, you should inform the student about the proposed > manuscript and the student should contribute to the manuscript to earn > the co-authorship. If the student is not reachable, then please put > his name in the acknowledgement section of the manuscript. > > This is my opinion on this topic, and it may help you to take a decision. > > With kind regards, > > Somidh > > > > On Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 4:52 AM, Geepee437 . <[email protected]> wrote: >> Loretta is spot-on. This has been peers commenting on an intractable >> problem, with both common sense and philosophical/ethical sensitivity. >> Having been excluded and included unfairly in authorship, it's been >> heartening that each commentator has substantially contributed to the >> discussion. (unlike me, I guess). Thanks Jorge for posing the dilemma. >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Aug 21, 2016, at 7:44 PM, Loretta Fisher <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> I'm glad this discussion was started. I'm learning a lot from everyone's >> thoughtful answers. >> >> -Loretta, MS student >> >> On Sun, Aug 21, 2016 at 6:21 AM, Malcolm McCallum >> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> In all my life, I have met dozens if not dozens of dozens of people who >>> were left off papers and felt they belonged on the manuscript. In every >>> case the situation caused problems. >>> >>> In all my life, I have NEVER, NOT ONE SINGLE TIME EVER, met someone who >>> got irate because they were included as an author on a manuscript, period. >>> In fact, I cannot recall a single time that someone held a grudge or was >>> upset because they were included on a paper. It is well understood that a >>> manuscript's authorship is distributed in regard to effort, but it is also >>> distributed according to responsiblity. Anyone thing the 200th author on >>> the Human Genome Project is remembered or targeted anymore than the 199th >>> author? I doubt most people will see those names beyond the first author, >>> maybe the last. >>> >>> When a paper goes to press, easily 90% of the responsiblity is born by the >>> lead author. I get the distinct feeling there is nothing political or >>> otherwise warranting concern about protecting anyone in this case. >>> >>> I personally feel that most people are over-whelmingly selfish/stingy with >>> distribution of effort, and most guidelines are simply provided by people >>> who are more concerned about other people's activity than there own. >>> Further, they put way to much weight on being 10th author on a 20 author >>> manuscript. >>> >>> IF more people concerned themselves with publishing their own papers, >>> producing their own results, and actually contributing to science, then this >>> entire issue would be mute. >>> >>> Do what you think is fair. >>> >>> >>> On Sat, Aug 20, 2016 at 11:19 PM, Jeff Houlahan <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi Gary and all, this one's an interesting one. Your position is one I >>>> have a lot of sympathy for - it's generous and gives credit where it's due. >>>> What makes this tricky is that it also gives responsibility that somebody >>>> might not want to accept. I know it's unlikely and not that common but >>>> there may be instances where somebody would prefer not to have their name >>>> on >>>> a paper where they've done enough work to warrant authorship. If my name >>>> showed up on a paper without me ever being aware that it had been submitted >>>> I would be a little bothered. If I read the paper and didn't agree with >>>> the >>>> interpretation I would be very unhappy. That said, the idea of not giving >>>> credit to somebody who deserves it just seems wrong. This is a rock and a >>>> hard place. Best, Jeff Houlahan >>>> >>>> ________________________________ >>>> From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news >>>> <[email protected]> on behalf of Gary Grossman >>>> <[email protected]> >>>> Sent: August 20, 2016 12:04 PM >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Query on authorship >>>> >>>> Querido Jorge, this is a murky area of co-authorship except for one >>>> point. Coauthorship is *earned* and should not be taken away because of >>>> some >>>> other circumstance outside of the project responsibilities. Given that the >>>> second student completed the work while they were at your institution, the >>>> simple solution, given that they did indeed earn coauthorship, is to put >>>> them on the paper with your institutional address. If you're worried about >>>> someone contacting them then just asterisk their name and in the footnote >>>> put "current address unknown". !Eso! g2 >>>> >>>> On Fri, Aug 19, 2016 at 3:24 PM, Jorge A. Santiago-Blay >>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Query on authorship >>>>> >>>>> Dear Colleagues: >>>>> >>>>> I am writing a small paper resulting from research done with two >>>>> undergraduates many years ago (and, later on, involving several other >>>>> colleagues using cutting-edge technology). As the results became obvious, >>>>> both of the students agreed (orally, in person) with me that we should get >>>>> the research published. As far as I remember, there was no email or letter >>>>> documenting that and, there was no manuscript, only the data and the >>>>> methods >>>>> we were using. >>>>> >>>>> The problem: I have located one of the former students (now a researcher >>>>> at a major research institution), who is excited about getting the >>>>> research >>>>> published, but not the second student. >>>>> >>>>> Question: How to handle the contribution (including authorship) of the >>>>> other person? Here are some options I see. >>>>> >>>>> a. Omit the name of the person that has not been located and indicate >>>>> that another person was involved in the data collection but we were hot >>>>> able >>>>> to locate him/her to get his/her approval to use his/her name as an >>>>> author. >>>>> Under these circumstances, would it be OK to name the person in the >>>>> Acknowledgments? Lately, I am asking permission to do that because >>>>> sometimes >>>>> some people prefer to remain anonymous. >>>>> >>>>> b. Include the name of the person I cannot locate as an author, an act >>>>> of fairness and good faith on my part. If the person does not like the >>>>> idea >>>>> (and the paper is published) retract the name of the person in an erratum, >>>>> later on, and assume responsibility for my error. A kind colleague did >>>>> that >>>>> to me once and, subsequently, it has resulted a long standing >>>>> collaboration >>>>> (and co-authorship in many papers, with my knowledge) :) >>>>> >>>>> c. Nor use the data garnered by the person I cannot locate. Although I >>>>> am pretty sure I am authorized by the institution to use the data, as a >>>>> general personal; preference, I like to ask permission. >>>>> >>>>> If you have something constructive to comment, kindly direct your >>>>> comments to me, [email protected] , >>>>> >>>>> Apologies for potential duplicate emails. >>>>> >>>>> Sincerely, >>>>> >>>>> Jorge >>>>> >>>>> Jorge A. Santiago-Blay, PhD >>>>> blaypublishers.com >>>>> >>>>> 1. Positive experiences for authors of papers published in LEB >>>>> http://blaypublishers.com/testimonials/ >>>>> >>>>> 2. Free examples of papers published in LEB: >>>>> http://blaypublishers.com/category/previous-issues/. >>>>> >>>>> 3. Guidelines for Authors and page charges of LEB: >>>>> http://blaypublishers.com/archives/ . >>>>> >>>>> 4. Want to subscribe to LEB? http://blaypublishers.com/subscriptions/ >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> http://blayjorge.wordpress.com/ >>>>> http://paleobiology.si.edu/staff/individuals/santiagoblay.cfm >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Gary D. Grossman, PhD >>>> Fellow, American Fisheries Soc. >>>> >>>> Professor of Animal Ecology >>>> Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources >>>> University of Georgia >>>> Athens, GA, USA 30602 >>>> >>>> Website - Science, Art (G. Grossman Fine Art) and Music >>>> www.garygrossman.net >>>> Blog - https://medium.com/@garydavidgrossman >>>> Board of Editors - Animal Biodiversity and Conservation >>>> Editorial Board - Freshwater Biology >>>> Editorial Board - Ecology Freshwater Fish >>>> >>>> Hutson Gallery Provincetown, MA - www.hutsongallery.net/artists.html >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Malcolm L. McCallum >>> Assistant Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources >>> Aquaculture and Water Quality Research Scientist >>> School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences >>> Langston University >>> Langston, Oklahoma >>> >>> >>> Link to online CV and portfolio : >>> https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO >>> Google Scholar citation page: >>> https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=lOHMjvYAAAAJ&hl=en >>> Academia.edu: >>> https://ui-springfield.academia.edu/MalcolmMcCallum/Analytics#/activity/overview?_k=wknchj >>> Researchgate: >>> https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Malcolm_Mccallum/reputation?ev=prf_rep_tab >>> Ratemyprofessor: >>> http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=706874 >>> >>> Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is >>> for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential >>> and privileged information. Any unauthorized >>> review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the >>> intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy >>> all copies of the original message. >>> >>> “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array >>> of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted >>> treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it >>> forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.” >>> -President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 >>> into law. >>> >>> "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - >>> Allan Nation >>> >>> 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert >>> 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss,and >>> pollution. >>> 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY >>> help restore populations. >>> 2022: "Soylent Green is People!" Charleton Heston as Detective Thorn >>> 2022: "People were always awful, but their was a world once, and it was >>> beautiful.' Edward G. Robinson as Sol Roth. >>> >>> The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) >>> Wealth w/o work >>> Pleasure w/o conscience >>> Knowledge w/o character >>> Commerce w/o morality >>> Science w/o humanity >>> Worship w/o sacrifice >>> Politics w/o principle >>> >> > > > > -- > Dr. Somidh Saha > c/o Chair of Silviculture > Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources > University of Freiburg > Tennenbacherstrasse. 4 > D-79085 Freiburg i. Br. > Germany > > Homepage -- Dr. Somidh Saha c/o Chair of Silviculture Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources University of Freiburg Tennenbacherstrasse. 4 D-79085 Freiburg i. Br. Germany Homepage
