Ghost authorship is a practice that has been used in the world of academic publishing for many years, but is only recently being addressed by the scientific community. It involves an individual who has contributed significantly to a research project or paper, but who is not listed as a co-author. Ghost authorship is a highly unethical practice, and it can have serious implications for both the researcher and the publisher. In this article, we will discuss what ghost authorship is, and how it is practiced.
What is Ghost Authorship?
Ghost authorship is a practice in which an individual contributes significantly to the research or writing of a paper, but is not listed as a co-author. This individual may provide data, analysis, or other important contributions to the project, but their name is not included in the list of authors. Ghost authorship is considered unethical, as it denies credit to the individual who contributed to the work.
How is Ghost Authorship Practiced?
Ghost authorship is often practiced in the academic publishing world, where authors may be paid to write papers or research projects on behalf of another individual or organization. In some cases, these authors may be paid to write the paper without disclosing their identity. In other cases, they may be credited as a “guest author” or “contributor”, but their name is not included in the list of authors. Ghost authorship is also used in the corporate world, where companies may hire ghostwriters to produce reports or articles on behalf of the company.
Ghost authorship is a highly unethical practice, and it can have serious implications for both the researcher and the publisher. It is important for researchers to be aware of the practice of ghost authorship and to ensure that their contributions are properly credited. In addition, publishers should ensure that any ghost authors are properly identified and credited for their work.
