Even if you are completely confident in the colleagues with whom you plan to co-author a paper, there is still a risk of conflict that may negatively affect the progress of the work. That is precisely why, in order to avoid misunderstandings, it is essential to understand what may cause them and to organise collaboration properly. In today’s article, we explain how to do this correctly.
What can cause discord within a team?
A common mistake is to assume that conflict within a team is usually the result of poor interpersonal relationships or unethical behaviour on the part of individual participants. In practice, however, the main reason is usually much simpler.
Most often, disagreements arise because at the beginning of a project the participants do not agree on clear criteria for determining authorship. Each researcher starts the work with their own subjective view of what kind of contribution entitles a person to be included in the list of authors. For one person, this may mean generating the idea and developing the research concept; for another, it may mean a lengthy period of data collection; for a third, it may mean preparing the final version of the paper.
As a result, the lack of prior discussion about the terms of collaboration can negatively affect the work on the paper and significantly delay the publication process.
The most common causes of such conflicts include:
- changes in the actual contribution of participants during the course of the project
- relationships between the academic supervisor and junior researchers
- the inclusion of individuals in the list of authors despite their lacking a substantial contribution or, conversely, the exclusion of those who have in fact carried out significant work
- changes in the composition of the team in long-term projects
Are there any general standards?
In academic practice, there are general standards that can serve as an objective point of reference. They help to prevent misunderstandings, define each participant’s contribution clearly, and reduce the risk of conflict when authorship is being allocated.
For example, in biomedicine and related disciplines, the most widely used international standard is the ICMJE criteria (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors). These require that all four conditions be met simultaneously for a person to be included in the list of authors, namely:
- A substantial contribution to the research.
- Participation in the preparation of the scientific publication.
- Approval of the final version of the manuscript.
- Willingness to take responsibility for the content of the work.
It is important to understand that technical assistance, general supervision, financial support for the project, or formal administrative involvement are not, in themselves, always sufficient grounds for authorship. That is why it is advisable for the team, even before beginning to prepare the paper, to discuss not only the overall concept of the work, but also what kind of contribution will be regarded as authorship, who will be responsible for what, and how the order of authors will be determined.
In addition, it is useful to return to these agreements periodically as the project develops. Participants’ contributions may change: one person may work more actively during the data collection stage, another may take responsibility for analysis and writing, while someone else may become involved only at the stage of editing and preparing the paper for submission. If such changes are not discussed in a timely manner, even the conditions originally agreed upon may cease to reflect the real situation.
In the end, it can be said that conflict-free scientific co-authorship is not a matter of luck, but the result of well-organised collaborative work. A clear discussion of authorship, proper allocation of roles, and reliance on established standards make cooperation more transparent, fair, and professional.
If you would like not only to organise work on a co-authored paper more effectively, but also to simplify the publication process itself, you can обратиться to Scientific Publications. We can help you select a suitable journal, check whether your manuscript meets the journal’s requirements, and assess whether the paper is ready for submission. To receive a free consultation, fill in the form below, and one of our managers will contact you shortly. Onwards to new scientific achievements!
