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Authorship Resources, Roles, and Responsibilities

This guide was created in collaboration with Dr. Alice Young and Dr. CassiDe Street, and provides information about authorship definitions, author and contributor roles, authorship agreements, author disputes, and author misconduct.

Introduction

Determining who qualifies as an author on a scholarly work—and in what order—can be one of the most complex and consequential aspects of academic publishing. Questions of authorship touch on professional ethics, disciplinary norms, collaboration dynamics, and institutional expectations. As research becomes increasingly interdisciplinary and collaborative, the need for clarity around authorship roles, responsibilities, and agreements has never been greater.

This guide, developed in collaboration with Dr. Alice Young and Dr. Casside Street, brings together a wide range of resources to support researchers, students, and faculty in navigating the multifaceted landscape of academic authorship. Topics include definitions of authorship, contributor roles and taxonomies, authorship agreements, common sources of dispute, and how to address misconduct. Whether you are preparing your first manuscript, mentoring students, or managing collaborative research teams, this guide is designed to help you foster transparency, accountability, and fairness in your publishing practices.

Authorship Definitions

Authorship and Contributorship Roles

Authorship Agreement Resources

Authorship Disputes

Authorship MIsconduct (from: Lazarides, M. K., & Papanas, N. (2025). Authorship Disputes: An Endemic Plague. The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, https://doi-org.lib-e2.lib.ttu.edu/10.1177/15347346251341635)