Reference no: EM133371166

In principle, APA author order reflects order of contribution: the first author is the major contributor. In cases of joint authorship, alphabetical privilege commonly determines who gets the first-name position, although in some cases, a private agreement between collaborating authors will be negotiated ("you be first author this time, I'll be first next time"). Not uncommonly, institutional power and prestige (especially if they happen to coincide with seemingly neutral alphabetical privilege) determine who is listed as first author. Thus, an African American publishing her master's thesis or dissertation findings under the mentorship of a white professor may find herself identified as second author on her own research, particularly if her last name is Locke and her advisor's is Adams. Given the preponderance of whites and men in positions of academic authority, especially at the level of full professor, chances are that scholars of color and white women who are junior professors or graduate students will find themselves "persuaded" that they ought to be listed as second or third author on work that relies heavily on their knowledge, expertise, and research. Because in many academic fields first-authorship is considered an important indicator of power and prestige, those in power may use the tools of power to ensure that their name enjoys the prime authorship position. Yet the published author-order outcome is almost invariably treated as nonpolitical - as if it were the result of fair play and gentlemanly conduct. (Thompson, 2004, p. 42)