Sessionscoauthored

Sessionscoauthored is a proposed model of scholarly authorship attribution in which credit is assigned based on discrete collaboration sessions rather than a single, fixed author list determined at the end of a project. In this approach, researchers participate in time-bounded writing or research sessions, contributing specific content, analyses, or ideas. The outputs from these sessions are aggregated into a manuscript, dataset, or other scholarly deliverable, and authorship is attributed according to the recorded contributions from each session. The practice can lead to shared or equal credit among participants, depending on predefined criteria.

The concept emerges from broader discussions of team science, contribution tracking, and open science. It aligns with ongoing efforts to increase transparency around who did what in collaborative work and to recognize contributions that may not fit traditional authorship models. While not yet standard in most journals, sessionscoauthored frameworks are discussed in relation to contributorship taxonomies and digital tools that capture activity across writing and analysis sessions.

Mechanically, implementing sessionscoauthored requires explicit governance and documentation. Researchers may use version control, time-stamped session logs, or contribution records that link each session to specific outputs. Taxonomies such as CRediT can be adapted to map session-level contributions to author roles. Practical considerations include establishing criteria for when a session warrants authorship credit, resolving order or equal credit, and ensuring compatibility with funder and journal policies.

Advantages of sessionscoauthored include enhanced transparency, more precise recognition of diverse contributions, and potential reduction of authorship disputes. Challenges involve administrative overhead, variable journal acceptance, and cultural adjustments within research communities. See also contributorship, authorship ethics, open science, and team science.