Publication and authorship
Publication
Publication of results is an integral and essential component of research. The University encourages all researchers to promote their work through publishing and other forms of dissemination. Publishing includes:
- publishing in peer-reviewed journals and books
- publishing in non peer-reviewed journals
- conference presentations (peer-reviewed and non peer-reviewed) and/or published in proceedings
- posters presented at conferences
- reports commissioned by external organisations
- promotional reports and materials on research
- articles in the popular press and other media
- publication in web-based journals and project web sites
As the aim of research (particularly publicly funded research) is to promote the advancement and dissemination of knowledge, publication and presentations of results to the specialist research and wider community is recognised a fundamental part of the research process.
As research is assessed by mechanisms such as the Research Excellence Framework, the impact of outputs and publication are of considerable importance.
The University encourages researchers to publish their work in peer-reviewed publications and media, including research journals. Researchers should give priority to publishing in those publications which employ rigorous standards of peer review.
The University encourages researchers to follow best practice in publication as detailed in guidelines issued by, for example, the Committee on Publication Ethics, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Council of Science Editors.
Researchers can also receive guidance in press liaison from the University's Press Office with respect to articles in the popular press, the broadcast media and other high profile reporting.
Good conduct in publication practice
In publication and authorship, as in all other aspects of research, researchers are expected to follow the principles of good research conduct supported by the University. It is essential that the parties involved in research and publication discuss and agree on
- authorship
- recognition of other contributions
- acknowledgement of sponsors
- declaration of any conflicts of interest
Authorship
Generally, an author is considered to be someone who has made substantive intellectual contributions to a published study. This includes anyone who
- made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution or interpretation of the research study
- drafted or substantively reviewed or revised the publication
- approved the final version of the publication
There is great variation in practice among different disciplines and research fields, so no universal set of standards for authorship can easily be formulated. The widely accepted International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines set a high standard but there are different practices about who should be included as an author on a paper.
This places most of the responsibility for decisions about authorship on the researchers who participated in the work reported in each publication. These decisions are best made early in each project to avoid misunderstanding and later disputed about authorship.
Authorship guidelines
Researchers should seek to publish their results in a manner which conforms with current best practice and in compliance with any relevant funders' terms and conditions. In doing so they should take steps to ensure that they:
- use the most appropriate means to publish the results of their research
- publish their data in an appropriate form, typically as papers in refereed journals
- comply with University policies and funder requirements in the dissemination of the results of research and, where appropriate, seek guidance and approval to report data to the media,
- publish a coherent report of the work and not report the data more than once (unless in a secondary analysis) or sub-divide the data (unless this was a predefined approach), reproduce the data in total, or in part, in a number of reports (unless clearly referenced and justified)
- report and discuss the findings of their research and include all data generated by the study
- analyse the data using appropriate methods of statistical analysis
- provide a summary of the work written in terms that will enable the layman to comprehend the work and to provide appropriate feedback to those who took part in the study, including any professional or lay groups that have contributed to, or took part in, the study
- acknowledge and cite the work of others where appropriate, fully and accurately attributing relevant sources
- take steps to ensure the accuracy of the data reported and act immediately to correct any genuine errors or misunderstanding that might subsequently be revealed in the data or its interpretation
- acknowledge the funding, support, sponsorship and other forms of input (including that of the University) to the work in an appropriate way
- give notice of intention to publish and seek approval, where appropriate, to publish, from all partner organisations
- openly declare all relevant interests, as required by the publisher and by the University's conflict of interest policy
- not seek media exposure for research which has not been subject to peer review, unless sanctioned by the University and all other parties involved in the research
- handle the release of research data which might have high impact and/or which might have an impact in the commercial world (positive and negative) with appropriate care and sensitivity, consulting the University and other partners as appropriate
Where the work has more than one author the researchers should also
- agree the contribution each will make to reporting the work and review this commitment regularly as the work progresses
- appoint a lead or executive author to lead for communication on the work
- report the work fairly according to the contribution each author has made to the work, and neither omit nor underplay a contributor's input or overplay such input or add in someone who did not contribute to the work in a way that would justify their inclusion as an author or co-author
- comply with the definition of author and co-author as defined by the journal in question or that of international organisations such as International Committee of Medical Journal Editors
- provide a formal offer of authorship (which should be accepted or declined in writing) to those meeting the agreed definitions (see above)
- maintain a file of all relevant signatures in case of disputes