A quest for citations? An analysis of and commentary on the trend toward multiple authorship

Academic careers and granting of tenure within the university are directly linked to a record of scholarly production. This growing emphasis on publishing appears to have contributed to an increase in collaborations among faculty members, resulting in an increase in multiple-author publications. This article explores the basis for the phenomenon of multiple authorship, the implications of multi-author scholarship, and the potential ethical questions that may arise from such collaborations. Guidelines from related professions are reviewed in regard to their utility for social work. Finally, the authors make suggestions in regard to when and under what circumstances multiple authorship is appropriate and beneficial.