Case 1: A Graduate Student's Conflict

You are a sociology graduate student, and you have been invited to work on a research team led by a world-famous professor, an internationally renowned expert in sociology. The professor has authored many publications and procured lots of research funding. It is a great opportunity for you to be invited to join her research team.

As one of your first tasks as her research assistant, the professor has asked you to work on a manuscript for a chapter of her upcoming book, an edited volume about the specific area of sociology in which you wish to focus your dissertation and future career as professional sociologist. What an opportunity for you—it is your dream assignment!

A rough version of the manuscript draft for the chapter was prepared by the professor and her previous graduate student. Since that time, the student has left the professor’s research group, the sociology graduate program, and the university. It is rumored that the student and the professor had a sudden "falling out" of some sort. You’ve heard that this student is no longer studying sociology and is now enrolled in law school at another university in a different state. The professor has asked you to rework/rewrite the chapter draft that she and her previous student had already prepared.

Since there is a quick deadline approaching for the chapter, you’re on a time crunch. You’ve decided to use much of the introduction, methods, and data analyses already prepared by the professor and her former graduate student; you have prepared a new discussion and conclusion for the chapter. The introduction, methods and data analyses are all pretty straightforward, so you concentrate on impressing your professor with the new discussion and conclusion sections you’ve written. You present your professor with the updated chapter manuscript, proud of your work. You cannot believe your ears when she compliments the work you’ve done on the chapter, particularly the new sections you’ve contributed.

You then tell your professor that, due to the contribution of the former student to the chapter, you wish to list the former student as a co-author on the chapter, along with the professor and yourself. The professor insists that, since the former student left the research group suddenly and without warning, he or she should not be acknowledged at all in the chapter, much less made a co-author. The professor says that since the former student is no longer studying sociology, "no one will know" that the student contributed to the chapter. Besides, says the professor, it will be much better for your career to have only two co-authors for the chapter; therefore, the chapter will be cited as Professor and your name, rather than Professor, et al. With three authors, only the main author is cited. Not including the former student will ensure that your name is clearly mentioned whenever the chapter is cited. Such name recognition would be very good for your career.