Dr. Z is perhaps a bit naive. Certainly, most researchers would know that the student’s work would
not merit first authorship. They would know that “gift” authorship is not an acceptable research
practice. However, an earlier experience in our work makes us wonder. Several years ago, in conjunction
with the grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education (FIPSE), a team of
philosophers and scientists at Dartmouth College ran a University Seminar series for faculty on the topic
“Ethical Issues in Scientific Research.” At one seminar, a senior researcher (let’s call him Professor R)
argued a similar position to that of Dr. Z. In this case Professor R knew that “gift” authorship,
authorship without a significant research contribution, was an unacceptable research practice. However,
he had a reason to give authorship to his student. The student had worked for several years on a project
suggested by him and the project had yielded no publishable data. Believing that he had a duty to the
student to ensure a publication, Professor R had given the student some data that he himself had
collected and told the student to write it up. The student had worked hard, he said, albeit on another
project, and the student would do the writing. Thus, he reasoned, the authorship was not a “gift.”