no chances, if authors do it, Sherlock :)

Dear Linas Balciauskas, thanks for your response. Could there be any logical initiative from the academic institutions to prevent these practices?

The best measures are through awareness on research and publication ethics among researchers and students in various institutions and research centres.

In some journals, it is a requirement before initial manuscript submission that authors must clearly state the contributions of each author in the research conducted (excluding manuscript proofreading). This is also a good way to engage all authors to truly and actively participate in the research work.

Dear Isa Baba Koki thanks for your nice contribution. I do agree with you, there might be some initiatives for awareness on research and publication ethics among researchers and students in various institutions and research centres. I acknowledge your thoughts.

Dear Vishnu Kumar Gupta thanks for your response. No doubt this is a very difficult task. We all should engage our efforts to make things easy.

This is a delicate question, all depends on the institutions. In some case I know in Europe, the chief of the research institution requires to have his name on all publications (very often a total over 1000 publications) regardless whether he has read them or not (usually such a person has no time to read them being very busy in a lot of different committees). In sharp contrast there are other places where the team leader, or the project leader, is the one to decide who is going to be co-author of publications.

Dear Jean-Pierre Jost, thanks for your valued response. Sir, do you think these are unethical? Are there ways to at least lessen/limit these unethical practices?

It's impossible as dr. Linas 🌹 said

Editors can prevent such an ambig- uous authorship by requiring a list of authors’ contributions on a regular basis. They are also in a position to resolve the authorship misattribution by referring to the authors’ research institutions. Publishers in turn are in a posi- tion to adopt and familiarise authors and editors with the editorial policies on authorship developed by learned associations.

Many international associations are developing educa- tional materials, guidelines and policy statements, incor- porating authorship issues along with other ethical and research integrity points

Dear D. A. Ali, thanks for your valued response. Do you think there are ways to at least lessen/limit these unethical practices?

Dear Faraed Salman thanks for your excellent response. I perceive your viewpoints.

In principle, these flaws can be prevented if authors strictly adopt and practice ethical values for credit sharing. In practice, to a small or large extent these are going to stay.

it is extremely,,impossible and agreed with Linas Balciauskas

I do agree with @Isa Baba Koki

However, as certain journals demand specifics about author contributions, some people (especially as concerning those overseeing young student researchers), insist on having authorship gifted to them with little or even no contributions from them to the work. It has become a 'tradition' sorth of.

This has been one of the shameful factors contributing to the research malpractice which has become so highly predominant in regions like Asia and Africa, although such practices are spread all over the academic world.

So, as long as such 'traditions' or way of thinking are in place, and authors are willing to continue in the same part, the situation will remain near hopeless.

I was just thinking in the context of this question that when we talk about research with a fresher in this field or with a junior, we usually talk about the immediate benefits like a comfortable life, a handsome salary, a good looking car, fat bank balance etc. Why is it that we don't talk about the great ideologies involved with research? We don't explain to her/ him how that research will help mankind. If we do this, I mean to say, if we talk about the so called greater glories of research will that stop the problems related to those mentioned in the question? It is just a thought. It would be great to receive some responses regarding this thought.

Thank you.

Best regards,

Anamitra.

Not a big problem to cause panic or worry. If it is bad, s journals should decampaign the practice.

Interesting discussion that provoked valuable challenging comment!

To limit them, editors should expect researchers to:

Identify the co-authors and contributors of a study, prior to its publication.

Subsequently, read the guidelines in journals that clearly articulate individuals who qualify for being an author/co-author or acknowledgment for verification.

Finally, identify the individual contributions made to establish accountability for the reported works

https://app.enago.com/homepage/i/10446/authorship-in-research

In publication ethics, authorship prompts thought-provoking discussions. In addition to editorial guidelines, academic organizations in different fields have their own criteria to define and consider suitability for authorship

https://app.enago.com/homepage/i/10446/authorship-in-research

The ICMJE recommends that authorship be based on the following 4 criteria:

Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND

Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND

Final approval of the version to be published; AND

Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of-authors-and-contributors.html

In addition to being accountable for the parts of the work he or she has done, an author should be able to identify which co-authors are responsible for specific other parts of the work. In addition, authors should have confidence in the integrity of the contributions of their co-authors.

All those designated as authors should meet all four criteria for authorship as explained in the above answer, and all who meet the four criteria should be identified as authors. Those who do not meet all four criteria should be acknowledged

http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of-authors-and-contributors.html

To make an end of these unethical practices Authors/researchers does not behave like that. Not possible to put full stop for this issue. I hope. Harasit Kumar Paul

Thomas Anthony Troszak

Dear Thomas,

Education is a business in developing economies. In most private universities in India you will get what I wrote. An average Indian's salary is Rs. 10,000 to 15,000 per month. A professor in a B- School earns about Rs. 150,000 to 200,000 per month. So now you can understand the difference between an ordinary person and a professor in a country like India.

Thank you.

Best regards,

Anamitra.

Dear Arbind K. Choudhary thanks for your nice contribution. I do also believe authors certainly have roles in prevention, but in reality, the authors are helpless in some situations. I appreciate your thoughts.

Dear Tanvir Singh, thanks for your comment. No doubt prevention of these unethical practices is difficult. We could think of institutional measures.

Dear Odji Ebenezer thanks for your nice contribution. Yes, I agree with you that "Gift authorship", "Guest authorship" and "Ghost authorship" are in practice almost all over the academic world. We should think of ways to at least lessen it. I appreciate your viewpoints.

Dear Anamitra Roy thanks for your priced contribution. I realize your viewpoints.

Dear Bruce Robin Nyamweha thanks for your response. I think this issue demands due attention.

Dear Thomas Anthony Troszak thanks for your nice response. You are welcome.

Dear Lamia Mustafa Al-Naama, I appreciate your comment.

Dear Chinaza Godswill Awuchi thanks for your nice response. I do also believe the authors' contribution should be a consideration.

Dear Chinaza Godswill Awuchi thanks four your contribution and the link you shared. You are welcome.

This is an interesting discussion worthy of serious attention. I call it the '3G Authorship'.

Dear Chinaza Godswill Awuchi, thanks for your valued response and the link you shared. I appreciate your efforts.

Dear Chinaza Godswill Awuchi, you have rightly said an author should be able to identify which co-authors are responsible for specific other parts of a work. I acknowledge your viewpoints.

Dear G. Stephen thanks for your response. Yes, it is not easy to put a full stop on this issue. I appreciate your efforts.

It would require a special police force, after passing a law against it.

This could also end up in censorship.

The only creative means is authenticity of work and author!!!

Most texts today are template products; they comply perfectly to formal standards, content is mainstreamed and composition style is uniform, i.e. to pass certain ‚mental border controls‘.

Another example: listening to some pieces of JS Bach, certain pieces seem to not to be from him.

In a free society, the anonymity of authorship remains a personal ethical decision.

Dear Stephen I. Ternyik thanks for your valued contribution. I realize your viewpoints.

Harasit Kumar Paul, I think the worst among these is ghost authorship, the issue with the rest is a matter of debate, and is quite difficult to get it prevented.

This is something that won't end now or anytime soon. But it would boil down to the first author (s) having to know their rights and the ethics in publication

In general, many large publishers are struggling with this. I know MDPI well. There are very strict requirements for the differentiation of copyright. Some studies need to be documented. According to the methodology and methods, there are clear requirements to show how it was used and if a person conducted these studies, they must be written (all this is licensed, sometimes assigned DOI). Those there is no way to indicate a person in the authors just like that.

Regards, Sergey Viktorovich Pushkin

As the Editor, I had cases of totally fake papers, with fake data. If authors could be more educated in statistics, they could pass.. and publish. So how anyone can find ghost author?

I started this discussion few days back and got many insights. As researchers it depend on our integrity not to include any person who has not contributed and vice versa. It is unfortunate it is highly practiced nowadays to increase the number but nothing can happen till the consciousness is enriched and Truth is settled in their brains.

Regards and thanks for extending discussion.

Dr. Bodh R Sharma

India

It is very difficult to put a full stop to ghost authorship. How much ever knowledge of authorship criteria researchers have, still this cotinues......

I have found including clients as authors when you use their data makes them very happy. l like having happy clients.

Thomas Anthony Troszak

Dear Thomas,

I am a little surprised to know about the situation in U.S.A.

Around 2000, we had a similar situation in India. In 2002, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam became the President of India. He was one of the greatest scientists and educationsits of his era. He is better known as "Missile Man" and is considered as the father of India's missile programs. Dr. Kalam after becoming the President of this country, started addressing this issue. Today the situation has improved a lot.

Thank you.

Best regards,

Anamitra Roy.

Harasit Kumar Paul

Hello Doctor.

This is a wonderful topic for a discussion. I am thankful to you for raising this topic. Every response in this thread is so enjoyable. I learnt so many new things from this discussion. I just hope that this thread goes on and I continue to have a great time.

Thank you.

Best regards,

Anamitra.

I totally agree with Linas Balciauskas

Dear Sanaa N Al- Haj Ali, thanks for your nice response. Yes. I agree with you that it is quite difficult to get it prevented. I realize your viewpoints.

Dear Timothy Omara thanks for your comments. I hope the authors would think of their rights and ethics in publication. I appreciate your thoughts.

Dear Pushkin Sergey Viktorovich thanks for sharing this information that many large publishers are struggling with"Gift authorship", "Guest authorship" and "Ghost authorship" issues. It assures me that there are many in the race to prevent these unethical trends.

It has become common practice nowadays. We should feel our responsibility and to avoid guest/ghost author.

I am amazed to read the views of Mr. Thomas Anthony Troszak, i add few lines, that situation in Pakistan is better for Ph.Ds, around 40% faculty members are non Ph.Ds in public sector universities.it may be more in private sector.

Dear Linas Balciauskas thanks for your response. I think it is the author's self-conscience that could effectively detect the ghost authors. Thanks for raising a valid issue.

The journal editors, institution, and government agencies need to come together to ensure that these malpractices are curbed by employing various measures such as creating awareness amongst authors, academicians, and administrators; enunciating and implementing policies to dissuade unethical behavior, protecting whistle-blowers, and providing punishments to those indulging in malpractices. All of us should remember that if unchecked, these deviant behaviors have the potential to compromise the credibility of scientific research and scientific publications.

Dear Bodh R Sharma, you have well said that the researchers' integrity not to include any person who has not contributed and vice versa might be helpful in the prevention of the issue but too difficult to execute.

Dear Hima Bindu Ponnam thanks for your comments. I agree with you that it is very difficult to put a full stop to ghost authorship.

Dear Rick Manner, thanks for your interesting response. You are welcome.

Dear Thomas Anthony Troszak, thanks for your nice contribution. You have raised a valid question. It is better to acknowledge them in the acknowledgment section. Thanks for your efforts.

I agree with Zia Ullah Khan

Dear Anamitra Roy thanks for the appreciation. You are welcome.

Dear Raya Al-Naimi thanks for your concurrence with Linas Balciauskas.

Dear Zia Ullah Khan thanks for your excellent insight. I do agree with you that the journal editors, institution, and government agencies could work to fight these malpractices. I highly appreciate your thoughts.

Dear Omar Hazem MOHAMMED thanks for your concurrence with Zia Ullah Khan. I am also thankful to him for a valued addition to the discussion.

Dear Aijaz Panhwar thanks for your comments. You have rightly said that it has become a common practice nowadays but we should think of ways to at least lessen the trends.

Dear Thomas Anthony Troszak thanks for your important addition to the discussion. I do agree with you that 22 authors for the said paper seem to be very unusual. I hope at least the journal editors would extend their efforts to limit such unusual events.

By sujected low

Dear Suhad Mohammed thanks for your response. Would you please add a few more words to make me understand what really do you mean?

Author contribution declaration doesn't work, this part can be faked as well

Dear Kai Wei Lee, thanks for your nice contribution. I appreciate your point of view.

Certainly a paper in condensed matter physics proposed by more than 10 authors is likely promoting ghost authorship. 3 people committed in the sample fabrication, 3 for the theoretical discussion, 3 for the measurements and one writer (say the supervisor) are more than enough.

Why do you care? If the main author feels some obligation to give somebody else more credit than they deserve that is his/her choice. Perhaps they have a different view of that person's contribution than you do.

It's very difficult to prevent it. It's up to corresponding author

It is difficult to answer this question unambiguously. The author of the article, who wrote it, can add co-authors. For the fact that they somehow helped in the study. Sometimes authors, in order to speed up the process of submitting an article to the journal, work on several articles, and add each other to the articles. But if the author sells space in the article, this is definitely not ethical, this is the main negative point in this matter.

Regards, Sergey