7 Intellectual Property and Ownership
APA Guidelines
Like other labs, we will follow the APA guidelines with respect to authorship:
“Authorship credit should reflect the individual’s contribution to the study. An author is considered anyone involved with initial research design, data collection and analysis, manuscript drafting, and final approval. However, the following do not necessarily qualify for authorship: providing funding or resources, mentorship, or contributing research but not helping with the publication itself. The primary author assumes responsibility for the publication, making sure that the data are accurate, that all deserving authors have been credited, that all authors have given their approval to the final draft; and handles responses to inquiries after the manuscript is published.”
See also the APA’s Tips for Determining Authorship Credit and Authorship Determination Scorecard.
At the start of a new project that occurs within the Inclusive Education Research Lab, the researcher who is driving the project can expect to be the first author on the primary papers to come out of the project. Dr. Jhangiani will be the senior (i.e., last) author. Other researchers who help over the course of the project may also be authors, depending on their contributions. As it is sometimes hard to predict exactly where a project will end up (data collection, cleaning, and analysis can take a long time), the positioning of non-primary authors will be decided when the paper is in the write-up phase. For example, if a researcher takes on a project but subsequently hands it off to another researcher, they will most likely be handing over first-authorship to that individual too (although they may remain a co-first author, if appropriate). All of these issues are open to discussion with Dr. Jhangiani.
If a student researcher drives a project and/or collects a project dataset but does not completely analyze it, write it up, or is actively working on it within a reasonable time frame (e.g., 1 year after the end of data collection), Dr. Jhangiani may discuss with that student handing the project off to someone who can complete it to expedite publication. If a researcher no longer wishes to work on a project at any time and/or no longer wants to be an author, Dr. Jhangiani will re-assign the project to another team member. This policy is here to prevent data that has been collected with the use of limited resources from remaining unpublished. Remember the mission of our lab includes disseminating meaningful and rigorous research that informs policy and practice in higher education. We cannot achieve our mission if our work is not being disseminated.
Beyond the APA
The Inclusive Education Research Lab additionally recognizes that there are policies, guidelines and factors beyond the APA that shape our practices. First, Brock University has Intellectual Property policies and guidance, which we adhere to by submitting our lab manual and consulting with Research Services periodically.
Furthermore, the lab is open to adapting, adjusting or customizing its practices for specific projects, initiatives or to find alignment with our lab values of equity, inclusion, decolonization, and openness. Situations where our intellectual property, authorship, or ownership practices may adapt include, but are not limited to:
- Honouring the rights, needs, or traditions of a community partner or research participant
- o For example, OCAP – ownership, control, access and possession and data sovereignty of First Nations’ data could alter how we approach a project.
- Recognizing the contributions of participants or community partners
- o For example, in participatory research, participants may sometimes become co-researchers and receive credit as authors.
- Following the requirements of a funder or research partner
- o For example, Creative Commons open licensing may be a requirement of grants that fund lab projects.
- Meeting the requirements of a specific journal, conferences or publishing venue
- o For example, some journals or associations outline requirements for authorship, which the Lab would need to consider thoughtfully in tandem with APA guidelines before making a submission.
Discussion amongst the lab should be undertaken to ensure team members are aware and participate in decisions related to intellectual property and authorship.
Note: Some of the guidance provided on this page draws on the lab manual of the Raineki Developmental Neuroscience Lab.