Attribution and credit bias in publication ethics

In this article, I argue that many of the ethical problems associated with the authorship of journal literature can usefully be clarified if authorship is placed within the broader concept of attribution, which extends beyond the author byline to encompass everything that readers are told about the work’s origination and the parties responsible. I also suggest that as the attribution of literature has grown more complex, and the opportunities for misattribution have become more subtle and multifarious, attribution has become increasingly vulnerable to systematic bias. Accordingly, I define “credit bias” as the systematic distortion of attribution, frequently in the interests of those with influence over the publication. I present a four-step framework for evaluating publications, discuss misattribution in drug industry literature as an illustration of credit bias, and examine the role of editorial standards in mitigating, but also in assisting, credit bias. I also argue for an independent scientific standard to promote ethical conduct in the medical journal sector.

Gift authorship: Two more contexts

The emergence of multi-centric studies and collaborative research between institutions within and outside the country, and of research led by authors who are from the same family, has led to notable changes in the production of public health research evidence from India. There is a potential risk of research publications overlooking the well known ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) criteria for authorship, with the provision of gift authorship to researchers who can facilitate faster access to Indian data for such collaborative research. The paper calls for action to reduce the practice of gift authorship in these research settings.

Gift authorship: Look the gift horse in the mouth

Unmerited authorship in research papers is widely acknowledged to constitute research misconduct. In different contexts, it has been called “gift”, “honorary”, or “guest” authorship. Although several attempts have been made to address the issue, it remains a significant problem in research. In this paper, we discuss accepted criteria that qualify a person to be an author on a research publication and define what constitutes “gift authorship”. We also look at the scenario in India and try to identify the circumstances that have fostered this practice in academia in the country. Finally, we discuss the adverse effects of this practice on the research enterprise as a whole, and possible remedial measures.