"Can You Include My Name in Your Paper, Please?" An Exploration of Ethical, Psychological, and Fairness Perspectives

The world of academia and professional authorship has always been influenced by complex social dynamics. Amid the struggle to produce novel research or insightful articles, a somewhat controversial request often surfaces from colleagues or friends: "Can you include my name in your paper, please?" How do we navigate this ethically and psychologically complex question? And ultimately, what is the fairest way to handle these situations?

Psychologically, this request can bring up a host of conflicting emotions. A friend asking for such a favor may trigger feelings of empathy and a desire to help. After all, we are social beings, and our relationships significantly influence our behavior. But, at the same time, an internal voice of integrity might resist, especially when the friend hasn't contributed anything substantial to the work. This conflict can lead to feelings of guilt, frustration, or even resentment, which can strain relationships.

Ethically, the situation raises serious concerns. Adding a non-contributing author dilutes the efforts of those who've genuinely contributed. This practice, known as "gift authorship" or "honorary authorship," is generally discouraged in academic and professional circles. Leading guidelines, like the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), explicitly state that authorship credit should be based on substantial contributions to the work. Violating this principle can lead to damage to one's reputation, the potential for academic or professional penalties, and a broader devaluation of academic and professional writing.

Balancing fairness with friendship is undeniably challenging in such scenarios. However, in deciding what's fair, it's important to consider all parties involved – not just the requesting friend, but also co-authors who've made significant contributions, the reader, and the broader academic or professional community that values integrity and transparency.

The fairest way to handle such requests is to gently but firmly communicate that authorship is based on significant contribution. Explain that it's a professional standard that you're bound to uphold for the integrity of the work and respect for all contributors. This approach might be challenging, particularly in cases where the requester is a close friend or superior, but it ensures that you maintain your ethical obligations and professional integrity.

To facilitate this conversation, it could be useful to offer alternative ways to help your friend. Perhaps you could guide them in producing their work, offer to collaborate on a project where they can genuinely contribute, or provide a networking introduction that might lead to an opportunity.

In conclusion, while the psychological discomfort induced by such requests is undeniable, the ethical considerations and fairness principles clearly state that non-contributing individuals should not be granted authorship. Standing firm on this principle might lead to difficult conversations, but it also sets a precedent for honesty, transparency, and respect for the essence of authorship. In the end, it is this commitment to integrity that forms the bedrock of our academic and professional lives.

Reference:

1. https://academic.oup.com/gigascience/pages/authorship_guidelines

Acknowledgment: I would like to express my gratitude to OpenAI's language model, ChatGPT, for the insightful dialogue and guidance in shaping this article.