Hi Alicere, I believe that the issue is more complex than this. Most times writing a paper represents most of the intellectual work, and involves revising the literature and proposing the main interpretations of data, or at least have an important part in these activities.
If your friend could have this kind of participation when wirting the paper, then she would be ethically a co-author. However, if the professor you mention has a definite paper in mind, with complete literature revision made and strong interpretations developed, then she should be paid and acknowledged to just write it all down in an appropriate form. All the best, Alexandre ORIGINAL MESSAGE ----------------------------- Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 09:37:24 -0700 From: Alicere Bachman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: writing a paper and authorship One of my friends wants me to post the following question and see what kind of opinions you may have: My friend is teaching in an univeristy. A professor in her department did some interesting work on biodiversity but the professor cannot write well enough to put the work into a professional paper. The professor approached her asking her to write the paper for him and her to be the second author, although she does not have anything to do with the research work. 1. Is this a good collaboration? If it is, many people can ask others to write papers for them and are still listed as the first authors. 2. Is it ethical? (my friend did not do the research; maybe she should not be a co-author on something she did not do?) 3. Should the person writing the paper be the first author? Alicere Dr. Alexandre F. Souza Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia: Diversidade e Manejo da Vida Silvestre Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS) Av. UNISINOS 950 - C.P. 275, São Leopoldo 93022-000, RS - Brasil Telefone: (051)3590-8477 ramal 1263 Skype: alexfadigas [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.unisinos.br/laboratorios/lecopop -- Esta mensagem foi verificada pelo sistema de antivírus e acredita-se estar livre de perigo.
