Responsible Authorship and Publication
At Tennessee State University, responsible authorship and publication are fundamental to maintaining research integrity, ensuring proper credit for contributions, and upholding ethical standards in scholarly work. Researchers must follow best practices in authorship, peer review, and transparency to promote trust in academic publishing.
Authorship Criteria and Responsibilities
To qualify as an author, an individual must meet all the following criteria:
Substantial Contribution – Significant involvement in the research design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation.
Drafting and Revising – Active participation in writing or critically revising the manuscript.
Final Approval – Reviewing and approving the final version before submission.
Accountability – Agreeing to be accountable for the accuracy and integrity of the work.
Ethical Publishing Practices
Transparency in Contributions – Clearly define each author’s role and acknowledge contributions of non-authors (e.g., funding sources, technical support).
Avoiding Plagiarism – Properly cite all sources and ideas, and avoid self-plagiarism or duplicate publication.
Conflicts of Interest – Disclose any financial, personal, or professional conflicts that could influence the research.
Data and Research Integrity – Ensure the accuracy, reproducibility, and proper storage of research data.
Peer Review and Research Dissemination
Ethical Peer Review – Maintain confidentiality, provide constructive feedback, and disclose conflicts of interest.
Responsible Retraction and Correction – Correct honest errors promptly and retract work in cases of significant misconduct.
Open Access and Data Sharing – Follow institutional and funder policies on making research publicly available.
Resources and Compliance
University Authorship Policy: [Link to Policy]
Publication Ethics and Best Practices:
- TSU Authorship Guidelines
- Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
- Managing Allegations of Scientific Misconduct: A Guidance Document for Editors
- Guidelines for Ethical Behavior in Publishing
- Council of Science Editors (CSE) White paper on promoting itegrity in scientific journal publications