Authorship

            Duke University has instituted authorship guidelines and dispute resolution procedures to supplement its policy on Misconduct in Research. Within the academic environment there is often some level of expectation regarding authorship or acknowledgement on the part of those contributing to a work. As a result, it is an appropriate practice to address questions of authorship at the earliest practical stage of a research project. Such communication can clarify roles, spur motivation, and minimize disappointments among the participants.

            Disputes over authorship are best resolved at the local level by the authors themselves or in consultation with the laboratory chief, chair or head of department(s), or dean, as appropriate.

             If resolution at the local level cannot be achieved, the matter can be referred to the Authorship Dispute Board in one of two ways. If the matter is taken to the Authorship Dispute Board with the mutual agreement of all parties, the decision of the Board will be binding on all parties. If the matter is taken to the Authorship Dispute Board without the mutual agreement of all parties, the decision of the Authorship Dispute Board is not binding, but the Board will make a written recommendation that will be provided to all parties of the dispute and can be made public by any of the parties involved.

         Please refer to Appendix P [1], “Guidelines for Authorship and Authorship Dispute Resolution” for details on how Duke addresses issues of Authorship.