Assume one or more undergraduate students are given a topic by an academic supervsior to use for their undergraduate honors thesis. The task is designed, programmed and set-up by the supervisor, who shows the students how to use the equipment and to conduct rudimentary data analysis/summaries. The students then collect the data and report them in a written, submitted thesis. Later, the academic supervisor analyses the data (from the summaries obtained), writes a manuscript in conjunction with his/her colleagues, and wishes to submit for publication. My question is: should the undergraduates who collected the data, and who did not contribute to the writing of the manuscript at all, be listed as authors? It seems that this decision is often left to personal preference.
Yes their names should be added. Collecting data is an essential step in research and is the first step to integrate these students in research projects!
Dear Dr. Sribas,
I think they should be added. In addition to the work they have done, it is an encouragement to these students. Their names can be added last in sequence of authors based on each memeber's contribution. This should result in a constructive solution.
Gettting students involved from young ages in research and encouraging them to get involved in publishing will help to advance the science at a faster pace.
Thanks for the question.
Dear Sribas Goswami ,
Yes, any student may be undergraduate, graduate, post graduate and research scholar who have collected the data, must be included in the list of authors as data collection is very important component of the research.
It depends on the contribution of the undergraduate thesis to the overall paper. The role of the student could range from being acknowledged to being a co-author.
Hi Sribas,
This is indeed a personal preference, but it could be argued either way. If the student collected and analyzed the data and then the advisor took those results and wrote it up for publication, it seems that at the very least, the student should get an acknowledgment in the paper. I would also add that this should have been discussed early on in the process so that the correct expectations were set, and nobody would be left frustrated. You could also argue that there would be no paper if the student had not performed the collection and analysis, so perhaps the student should get their name on the paper. Finally, I would ask: why not include them? Unless the journal limits the number of authors per manuscript, I see no reason why the student would not get their name on the paper after performing a substantial amount of the work.
I hope this helps
Ariel
In general, all who contributed to the paper should become co-authors (except language editors). Basically, the people who collected the data own the data and they can forbid others to use it or set their own conditions how others could use it: in some cases, they may agree to sell the data/get paid for their work without becoming co-authors.
Yes their names should be added. Collecting data is an essential step in research and is the first step to integrate these students in research projects!
In this case, the students are the owner of the data. The writer uses someone else' data. The student's name must be included to avoid claims of ethical issues at a later date. It is quite common for professors to encourage young researchers to enter the field by co-authoring with them and push them to participate in academic conferences.
Dear Kamal ! How nice to see you back here.
Yes, I agree. I often include the names of my students in my works as co-authors, whenever they prepare and collaborate with my work. It is only fare. And I notice that their full integration in a research team can provide mutual benefits for both sides and is beneficial for the end result and progress of research.
I don't see one single reason why the students shouldn't be included as co-authors of research papers, when they collaborate.
Data collection is an important part of a research process; therefore the student should be included.
Certainly yes, since it is rather immoral tyo use other people's hard work in order to publish under your name...
Students have been working hard many times for some strange 'homeworks' and they don't know that their work will be used for a publication...
Dear All,
Yes, data collecting is a very contribution even it may be the basis of many studies. It is highly important mainly in empirical or data dependent (e.g. ecological) surveys. I see most of us agree in this question.
Dear Maria,
Here you are a reason why some do not include students among co-authors. Where autocratic circumstances predominate project rulers can do anything. However, it is a rare phenomenon because a co-authorship is the cheapest remuneration of such an activity.
I would be better, if the student's name is included as author, as they had done the field work of the study, based on which the article was written. Such a reward would motivate them to pursue research in future.
Dear Sribas Goswami,
In my opinion, it is better to be added. Especially in developing countries that data collection is very heavy task. On the other hand, if their name as the author added, they will be more motivated.
Dear friends,
Thank you for your nice and warm feelings. I much appreciate all of you!
Dear @Sribas, of course, the answer to your question is YES. You may say my publication lists where some papers are co-authored with my students.
Of course, there are different opinions about this issue. Some propose clear criteria for (not) including students as co-authors, while some students care about why professors force students to be their co-authors without contribution!
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Clear_criteria_for_not_including_BSc_MSc_students_as_co-authors_on_scientific_journal_publications
https://www.researchgate.net/post/A_professor_with_no_contributions_but_only_a_simple_review_on_a_paper_forces_the_student_to_add_his_name_as_the_second_author_to_pass_his_grade
Undergraduate students, who participate in research, may collect raw data only or may collect data with higher level of cooperation which may extend into data analysis. The efforts of such students must be rewarded in a certain way. It could be by including their names as co-authors, or by acknowledgement, or by material prize. In any case, they ought to be helped if they like to proceed into postgraduate studies.
N.B. It is pleasing to see dear Professor Kamal coming back. WELCOME.
Dear Sribas,
As per your preconditions stated on the works of the students, they have done things that are required for a thesis which include data collection, organization, analysis and presentations for their adviser which are major parts of a scientific work of merit except the format and final preparation of the manuscript for publication and with no doubt they are part of the works which deserve the names with that work where ever it appears. If the only works students did was collecting data, then that is a different case as they have not done any thing academic and in fact the work even is not complete for a thesis either.
While I feel the same way as the previous posts in the inclusion of students who do data collection, I will put forth some of the information that I have found on the subject.
The attribution of authorship falls under the protection of copyright. Copyright coverage will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. For example, in the U.S supreme court ruled in Feist Publications, Inc., v. Rural Telephone Service Co. that:
"(a) Article I, § 8, cl. 8, of the Constitution mandates originality as a prerequisite for copyright protection. The constitutional requirement necessitates independent creation plus a modicum of creativity. Since facts do not owe their origin to an act of authorship, they are not original, and thus are not copyrightable. Although a compilation of facts may possess the requisite originality because the author typically chooses which facts to include, in what order to place them, and how to arrange the data so that readers may use them effectively, copyright protection extends only to those components of the work that are original to the author, not to the facts themselves. This fact/expression dichotomy severely limits the scope of protection in fact-based works."
Under this interpretation the effort should be relegated to the acknowledgements section. Nonetheless, jurisdictions vary from country to country.
The important thing is to check in what jurisdiction the journal is getting its copyright.
Note: I am not a lawyer, do consult one in any formal matter
Dear Sribas, most of the others say yes. But unfortunately, there are journals in my field that make it clear that data collection is not the same as intellectual contribution, although we cannot dispense the process.
My own view is that those who contribute sufficiently to understand and review or defend the paper may be included as co authors. (Welcome back to Prof Kamal, and wishes for a healthy Ramadan.)
Dear Miranda,
I think journals and editors can fix what they want, the decision of authors or determining authors is relevant. Each journal has rightly fixed the conditions of authorship but the rate of honorary authors is over 30%. Consequently, our discussion has a very limited theoretical impact: practical relationships and interests will determine this question.
Let me bring to your attention some good resources. The first one is How to handle authorship disputes: a guide for new researchers!
The second resource brings many cases that involves both students and professors as co-authors regarding the problems of co-authorship.
http://publicationethics.org/files/2003pdf12_0.pdf
http://publicationethics.org/search/site/student%20as%20coauthor
http://publicationethics.org/
My answer to this question is simply yes. Their contribution should, in some form or other, be recognised.
Yes Roland, I agree with that. The undergrads should have a COMMITMENT, an understanding of the research to defend it, rather than just say, "I only collected the data, but I don't know the head and tail of what was going on in the study".
The similar discussion is ongoing on Academia! It is not such a rich discussion there as here.
http://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/1014/should-undergraduate-students-be-included-on-papers-containing-data-they-collect
An ongoing dishonest game in some 3rd world countries is much worse. A "scholar" will include name(s) of undergraduate student(s) without collecting data or doing anything to the published research paper(s). The name(s) is/are included when the student(s) is/are relative(s) or having the same political affiliation(s). This is done under the justification of strengthening the CV(s) of the student(s) for application(s) for future jobs or further studies. In my opinion, seeing published paper(s) in record of undergraduate student(s) ought to be checked by asking him/her/them about the "claimed" research with respect to what was the contribution. The appointing or accepting committee may find out more falsifications.
Oh, yes such practice is present in my country also, where caste employment is ongoing at State Universities. So it is the easy and "regular" way to meet the prerequisites for employment at the University,especially for the children of people in power, follow the link.
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Do_you_have_experience_with_caste_employment_at_Universities_in_spite_of_the_law
i think their names should be mentioned in the manuscript as authors as they did part of the work as i understand they where involved in the research process it self writing the manuscript doesn't mean that you are the author i have many research with coworkers who only revise the manuscript or rewrite certain paragraphs however if the student collected the data only and didn't do any analysis or contribute at all in the research they can be mentioned in the acknowledgement section and their contribution is stated clearly. this is the least you can do
there is a guideline on the authorship called (COPE ), which says that data collector should not be included in the paper but only the person who significantly contributed to the paper. For more information you can Google it.
If the student contribute in a effective level and can understand and explain the whole work the name should be included. It would be a good idea as a co-author. It is open for everyone to contribute in scientific research.
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