Authorship

The University's Authorship Policy adopts the principles embodied in the Australian Code for the responsible Conduct of Research for the attribution of authorship in research publications.

To be an author, it is essential to have made a substantial scholarly contribution to the published work.  While specific practices may differ from discipline to discipline, there are a number of overarching ethical principles and procedures to which all researchers are expected to adhere.  The Authorship Policy sets out formal procedures to assist researchers to determine the appropriate authorship of papers and to minimise potential disputes over authorship issues.  The policy is viewable on the web at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3503

It is advisable to discuss and agree upon the matter of authorship/co-authorship with your supervisors in the early stages of your research project and to revisit the issue as necessary throughout candidature to avoid any misunderstanding that may delay the completion of your research project or publication(s).

In many research projects a number of participants are involved, each undertaking different tasks: it is acceptable in such circumstances for you to use the data/information derived collectively for publication(s) provided that each person’s contribution is duly acknowledged.

In recognition of the fact that your supervisors contribute to the development of your research by providing direction and guidance and by contributing ideas, it is normally appropriate that they be named as co-authors in publications, providing that each has made a substantial contribution to at least two of the following three activities:

1. conception and design of the project;
2. analysis and interpretation of data;
3. drafting significant parts of the article or critically revising it so as to contribute to the interpretation

Further information about determining authorship and resolving any disputes, is available in the Authorship Policy.  See also the relevant section of the ‘Responsible Conduct of Research Policy’ and the ‘Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research‘, which can be found at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/research/integrity/

The Statement of Authorship

Many students now elect to submit their thesis for examination in publication format.  Further information about this option appears in the thesis section of the Handbook.  Each publication included in a thesis, whether, published, accepted for publication, submitted or simply written in publication style must be prefaced by its own Statement of Authorship.

The purpose of the Statement of Authorship is two-fold.  Firstly, it provides thesis examiners with information about each author's contribution (in terms of the conceptualisation of the work, its realisation and its documentation) and secondly, it secures the written permission of all co-authors for the paper to be included in the thesis, whilst confirming they agree with each author's stated contribution.

If you are considering submitting your thesis in publication format, you can avoid delays in the submission of your thesis for examination by ensuring that you prepare a Statement of Authorship for each publication to be included in the thesis as you write it. 

The Statement of Authorship template, together with a model example, is available on the web at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/graduatecentre/forms/thesis/

The Importance of Acknowledging the University of Adelaide in Research Publications

Research publications are very important to the University; the more publications our staff and students generate, the more funding we receive to support research activities and research training at the University.  Consequently, it is vital that you acknowledge the University of Adelaide, in the form of a by-line, in your publications whether you are a sole or co-author, staff member or student. This also applies after you have left the University, where the publication is a result of your research at the University of Adelaide.

Researchers must also acknowledge any funding that enabled the research which led to the publication. Research publications include:

• Refereed journal articles,
• refereed conference paper,
• research books or chapters, and
• all forms of publication and performance in the areas of creative practice, including exhibitions, concerts and recordings and their associated publications such as catalogues, programs and sleeve notes.

In addition, a University by-line should be included in the notes of contributors (or equivalent) for all forms of publication (both print and digital).

For further information please consult the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and in particular refer to Section 4 - Publication and dissemination of research findings, and Section 5 - Authorship.