Editage – What do the terms lead author and co-author mean?

Summary

In this video, Tom, an editor with three years of experience, discusses the concepts of lead author and co-author in collaborative research. He explains that the lead author is typically responsible for the overall research concept and is involved in all stages, while co-authors contribute significantly but have less responsibility for the main concept. Challenges in defining these roles arise due to overlapping contributions. As solutions, alternating lead authorship and author contribution statements are suggested to ensure fair recognition and transparency in collaborative projects.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker introduces themselves as Tom, an editor with three years of experience, previously working in publishing in the cultural sector.
• ✍️ The video will focus on authorship, specifically the roles of lead authors and co-authors.
• 👥 Authorship in collaborative research can be a controversial topic, especially regarding role definitions.
• 📖 The lead author is primarily responsible for the overall research concept and is involved in all stages, including writing, editing, and responding to peer reviews.
• 🤝 Co-authors contribute to the research but typically have less responsibility for the overall concept or topic.
• ✅ To qualify as a co-author, a researcher must approve the final manuscript and take responsibility for its content.
• 🔄 There is often significant overlap in the roles of lead authors and co-authors, which complicates clear authorship definitions.
• ⚖️ Some research groups alternate first author designation on different studies to maintain fairness.
• 📝 Many journals now encourage author contribution statements, which clearly define the roles of each researcher for transparency.
• 🔍 Author contribution statements help address potential challenges in attributing different kinds of authorship within a research team.

Q & A

What is the primary responsibility of the lead author in research?

The lead author is responsible for the overall concept of the research and is involved in every stage of conducting the research, writing and editing the manuscript, and responding to comments during the peer review process.

How do co-authors contribute to the research process?

Co-authors may offer substantial contributions at every stage of the research but generally have less responsibility for the overall concept or research topic compared to the lead author.

What is required for a researcher to qualify as a co-author?

A researcher must approve the final manuscript and agree to be responsible for its content to qualify as a co-author.

What challenges can arise in defining the roles of lead author and co-authors?

There is often substantial overlap in roles at every stage of the research, making it difficult to clearly define a lead author compared to co-authors. This complicates clear-cut definitions of authorship.

What is one potential solution for the challenge of defining lead and co-author roles?

One solution is the practice of alternately identifying as first authors on different studies among researchers who frequently collaborate, ensuring fairness.

How do author contribution statements help clarify roles in research?

Author contribution statements specify the roles of each researcher in the study and are available for public inspection, helping to clarify different kinds of authorship responsibilities.

Why can authorship be a controversial topic in collaborative research?

Authorship can be controversial because collaboration often involves overlapping responsibilities, which complicates the distinction between lead authorship and co-authorship.

What are the benefits of having clear authorship roles in research?

Clear authorship roles help ensure that each researcher receives proper credit for their contributions and that there is transparency in the research process.

What are journals doing to address the issue of authorship roles?

Many journals encourage the use of author contribution statements to clearly define and make public the roles of each researcher, helping to prevent authorship disputes.

How can alternating first authorship be beneficial in research teams?

Alternating first authorship in different studies allows researchers to share the credit and responsibility over time, promoting fairness in collaborative research.