Responsible authorship in engineering fields: an overview of current ethical challenges

Area of Science:

• Engineering Ethics
• Research Integrity

Background:

• Authorship is a critical aspect of scientific and engineering research.
• Existing guidelines from professional bodies and journals offer foundational support for authorship practices.
• However, these guidelines may not fully address the nuanced ethical dilemmas encountered in engineering research communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the specific ethical challenges related to authorship within engineering fields.
• To emphasize the necessity of ongoing dialogue and discussion among engineering researchers regarding authorship criteria.
• To highlight the importance of considering the potential societal impact and public safety implications of engineering research publications.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing ethical guidelines and authorship policies in engineering.
• Analysis of case studies and common authorship disputes in engineering research.
• Conceptual framework development for ethical authorship in engineering.

Main Results:

• Authorship in engineering presents unique ethical challenges, including determining author entitlement and managing collaborative contributions.
• Current professional guidance, while valuable, is insufficient to replace community-driven discussions on authorship norms.
• The potential for engineering research to impact public welfare necessitates careful consideration of authorship and publication ethics.

Conclusions:

• Engineering research communities must actively engage in discussions to define and uphold ethical authorship standards.
• Addressing authorship issues proactively is crucial for maintaining research integrity and public trust in engineering.
• Ethical authorship practices in engineering should consider both scientific contribution and potential societal consequences.