How do you manage authorship in collaborative research?

1 Define authorship criteria

The first step to manage authorship is to define the criteria for who qualifies as an author and who does not. Different disciplines and journals may have different standards, but a general guideline is that an author should have made a significant and original contribution to the design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research, and should be accountable for the quality and integrity of the work. Anyone who does not meet these criteria should be acknowledged as a contributor, but not as an author.

2 Discuss authorship early and often

The second step to manage authorship is to discuss it with your collaborators as early and as often as possible. Ideally, you should have a clear and written agreement on the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of each team member, and how they relate to authorship. You should also review and update this agreement as the project progresses, especially if there are changes in the scope, direction, or contribution of the research. Communication is key to avoid conflicts and ensure fairness and transparency.

3 Decide on the order of authors

The third step to manage authorship is to decide on the order of authors, which can have implications for recognition, reputation, and career advancement. The order of authors may depend on the conventions of your field or journal, but a common practice is to list the authors according to the relative importance or magnitude of their contribution. The first author is usually the one who did most of the work and wrote most of the manuscript, while the last author is often the senior or supervising researcher. The middle authors are usually ranked by their contribution or alphabetical order.

4 Document and justify your authorship decisions

The fourth step to manage authorship is to document and justify your authorship decisions, both internally and externally. Internally, you should keep a record of the rationale and evidence for your authorship criteria, order, and contributions, and share it with your collaborators. This can help you resolve any disputes or disagreements that may arise, and demonstrate your ethical and professional conduct. Externally, you should follow the guidelines and requirements of your journal or publisher for disclosing and explaining your authorship decisions, and provide any necessary information or documentation.

5 Acknowledge non-author contributors

The fifth step to manage authorship is to acknowledge non-author contributors, such as funders, sponsors, advisors, assistants, reviewers, editors, or anyone else who supported or facilitated your research in some way. Acknowledging non-author contributors is not only a courtesy, but also a way of showing respect, gratitude, and transparency. You should follow the norms and standards of your field or journal for acknowledging non-author contributors, and make sure you have their permission and approval for doing so.

6 Respect and protect your co-authors' rights and interests

The sixth and final step to manage authorship is to respect and protect your co-authors' rights and interests, as well as your own. This means that you should not engage in any unethical or inappropriate practices, such as plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, ghostwriting, guest authorship, or duplicate publication. You should also consult and inform your co-authors about any changes, corrections, retractions, or updates related to your manuscript, and obtain their consent and approval for any actions or decisions that affect them. By respecting and protecting your co-authors' rights and interests, you can foster a healthy and productive collaboration.