Research publication credit assignment: nurses' views.

A national survey of 1,693 persons (primarily nurses) from eight target groups was done to assess views on publication credit assignment. Data were collected using scenarios in a questionnaire based on the instrument developed by Spiegel and Keith-Spiegel (1970). Scenario items and the percentages of 897 respondents selecting each response alternative are presented in an appendix. Response rates indicated that authorship credit assignment is an important issue for nurses functioning primarily in academic settings. Among items selected by 85% or more of 620 nurses in four subsample groups (American Academy of Nursing, Council of Nurse Researchers, authors, and nursing doctoral students) with response rates greater than 50%, 10 points of agreement were found. These points are summarized as possible guidelines for publication credit assignment. Few differences were found among scenario item responses of: (a) subjects classified as high and low publishers, (b) those with research as their major role responsibility and others, and (c) doctoral students and others.