Resolving authorship disputes by mediation and arbitration

Area of Science:

• Scientific Research
• Academic Publishing
• Research Integrity

Background:

• Authorship disputes are an increasing concern within the scientific community.
• Existing methods for resolving these disputes are often inadequate, leading to harm for individuals and research communities.
• There is a need for more effective dispute resolution mechanisms in scientific authorship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine existing options for resolving scientific authorship disputes.
• To identify limitations in current dispute resolution practices.
• To propose alternative dispute resolution (ADR) models for authorship conflicts.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of current authorship dispute resolution guidelines.
• Examination of dispute resolution models in other collaborative fields.
• Evaluation of the potential role of academic journals in facilitating ADR.
• Consideration of independent bodies for dispute resolution.

Main Results:

• Current guidelines often fail due to power imbalances and lack of institutional authority.
• Models from other collaborative disciplines and ADR processes like arbitration and mediation offer viable solutions.
• Academic journals are well-positioned to mediate authorship disputes due to their recognized authority.

Conclusions:

• Authorship disputes should be viewed as predictable and preventable, not isolated incidents.
• Journals and researchers should proactively address potential authorship conflicts.
• Independent bodies offering ADR services can significantly aid scientific collaborators and journals in resolving disputes efficiently.