It is essential for researchers to be able to share the results of their research and to contribute to the global development of knowledge. Moreover, after completion of the research, the researchers have a moral obligation to publish the research results, regardless of what they are. In addition to publications, this can be done by disclosing data, codes, processes, or products, amongst other things (see Collaboration with external parties). This may be subject to copyright or other IP rights.
The UMCG therefore considers it important that decision-making on author positions is fair and transparent. Managers have a special responsibility here. The agreements detailed below relate to scientific articles, but they also generally apply to other publications, such as theses, (chapters in) books, and reports. Finally, the basic principle is that research participants are also informed about the results of the study. If participants are informed individually (e.g. via e-mail), they must have provided informed consent in advance.
Where possible, a research team should make written agreements about manuscripts, authorships, and the ranking of authors before the study starts, following the guidelines below. It should also be clear which senior researcher is responsible for resolving disputes about this. These agreements can change, for example when there are changes in the originally scheduled contributions from team members. New proposals for manuscripts (including authorships) are only worked out after the team has agreed to them. Furthermore, we advise that you to think about other forms of communication, findability, and visibility at an early stage. For biobanks and databanks, the UMCG biobanks/databanks (cohorts) Publication Policy Guide has been developed.
The UMCG endorses the Recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors as a basis for authorship. Staff members are obliged to comply with these recommendations.
Authorship must be based on all of the following four criteria:
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1. Substantial contribution to the concept or design of the research or to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the research data |
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2. Writing or critically editing the texts |
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3. Approval of the final version of the manuscript |
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4. Responsibility for all parts of the manuscript, as shown by a willingness to ensure that questions about the accuracy of any part are properly investigated and answered |
Anyone who meets the first criterion of a substantial contribution to the research should be given the opportunity to meet the other three criteria and qualify as an author.
The COPE provides helpful information and tools (flowcharts, checklists, and examples) for establishing authorship and resolving potential disputes.
Breach of academic integrity must be reported to the manager or, if there is reason to do so, to the relevant confidential adviser (see Complaints about research misconduct). Examples of this related to authorship are:
The first, second, last, and penultimate authors have normally contributed more than the other authors.
If a large group of researchers has conducted a (multicentre) study, the individuals who qualify as authors on the manuscript can be:
In the latter two cases, individuals who are not listed separately as authors should be listed as ‘collaborators’. The choice between the three options should preferably be made in the initial phase of the research with the interests of junior researchers explicitly considered in the decision-making process.
People who have contributed substantially to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship can be listed in the Acknowledgements, including their title, position, affiliation, and specified contribution. They must agree with the fact that they are mentioned and how they are mentioned.
Financial and other substantial material sources of support for the research must be disclosed in the Acknowledgements or the Funding Statements.
The work of others should be respected by proper attribution of their ideas and text through adequate citations and references.
The CMB has programmes for processing references.
Open Science is the global drive toward more transparency in the way researchers work, share research data and other information, and disseminate research results. In accordance with the UG Strategic Plan 2021-2026, the UMCG stimulates the application of Open Science in the academic community by striving towards FAIR data (see FAIR data) and Open Access publishing (freely available, cost-free, full online access to publications). The UG/UMCG Open Access policy distinguishes different forms of Open Access publishing (infographic):
The UMCG encourages researchers to seek publicity in order to:
However, media attention also carries risks that researchers should be aware of.
A selective, overly positive, or too generalised presentation of research results and their implications can compromise the academic integrity of both the researcher and the UMCG. Therefore, researchers need to realise that dealing with the media requires special skills and caution. It thus is crucial to always claim the right to correct factual inaccuracies in a text before it is published.
The UMCG Communications and Marketing department offers professional support in dealing with media. See video and the UMCG communication portal EHBC. Researchers should consult with the Communication and Marketing department when:
Contact: Secretariat tel. (050) 361 12 200, e-mail: [email protected]
The press officer on duty can be reached via the secretariat during office hours and via the telephone exchange of the UMCG (050) 361 61 61 outside of office hours (24/7).
Social media has a special role among other media because 
Social media offers the opportunity to:
Anything shared via social media is visible forever and can always be traced back to the author of the post. There are risks involved. Before sharing posts, a researcher should consider whether they can best be shared under their own title or via a UMCG account in view of the possible interactions and reactions resulting from the post. In addition, researchers should realise that, as a social media user, they are not only seen as an individual but possibly also as a representative of a certain professional group and of the UMCG.
It is therefore important to:
Social media posts can lead to harassment, threats, or hate comments. Researchers who experience this are advised to discuss this with their manager and to report it to the WetenschapVeilig helpline.
Sometimes, funders or clients want to design the publicity themselves without the involvement of the researcher or the UMCG. In most cases, this is not desirable.
The basic rule to follow here is that the UMCG or the coordinating centre (in multicentre research) provides publicity. Researchers are also advised to consult with the Communication and Marketing department before appearing in media productions made by a company.
