Fundamental Science Practices Frequently Asked Questions
What USGS scientific information products must follow FSP?
How does USGS define peer review and what are the FSP peer review requirements?
How is approval granted and what documents at a minimum must be submitted to the approving official?
What is the foundation of FSP?
What Federal Government policies require the release of scientific data, and how does the USGS intend to meet these requirements?
What is considered USGS scientific software and what are the USGS requirements for releasing it?
What types of project progress information can be reported and why is that important?
The frequently asked questions (FAQs) represent a Bureau consensus to ensure interpretations of Fundamental Science Practices (FSP) policies are uniformly applied throughout the USGS. These FAQs provide further explanation of the FSP and related publishing policies, as well as describe the procedures and decision making necessary to meet the policy requirements.
FSP Background
Authorship
Review
Approval
USGS Publication Series
Journal Publications
Metadata
Data
Software
Project Reporting and Cooperator Publications
Web Pages, Conferences, Abstracts, and Presentations
Preprints
The FAQs will be updated as necessary and changes in the form of additions or revisions are reflected by date (month/year) as they occur. Questions about the FSP that are not addressed here should be directed to gs_fspac@usgs.gov.
FSP Frequently Asked Questions
What is the foundation of FSP? [001]
A set of fundamental principals that underlie USGS science practices including how research activities are planned and conducted and how the results of these research activities are appropriately reviewed, approved, and released. [Read More]
What USGS scientific information products must follow FSP? [002]
All USGS scientific information products must follow FSP if the author has full time, part time, or volunteer (including emeritus) USGS affiliation or a shared affiliation such as between USGS and a university. [Read More]
Are there any alternatives, exceptions or exclusions to following the FSP review and approval requirement? [003]
No. FSP review and approval requirements must be followed for all publicly released USGS science information products. [Read More]
What are the basic FSP requirements for review, approval, and release of scientific information products? [004]
Scientific information products generally receive peer review, data review, names review, editorial review, and policy review, which are followed by approval and release of the product. [Read More]
Where is guidance available on disclaimer statements used in USGS scientific information products? [005]
A list of various disclaimers is available at the link provided with this FAQ. [Read More]
Where is guidance available regarding advocacy and recommendations in USGS information products? [006]
Guidance on advocacy and recommendations is available at the link provided with this FAQ and includes examples of acceptable and unacceptable statements. [Read More]
Under what circumstances may "personal (written or oral) communications" be cited in scholarly publications? [007]
The use of written or oral communications is permitted when referring to auxiliary information that is not essential to ensuring others can replicate the results or evaluate the validity of the data used to support the conclusions of the scholarly publication. [Read More]
How are FSP and the Science Publishing Network (SPN) requirements related? [008]
FSP requires that USGS scientific information products conform with established USGS publishing requirements and procedures for production and release; the SPN is the Bureau’s organizational unit that is the sole source for providing publishing support services and related needs. [Read More]
Where is guidance available that explains the general FSP review and approval procedures and responsibilities for scientific information product development? [009]
Available guidance includes procedures, charts, workflow diagrams, FAQs, and training modules. [Read More]
What are the recordkeeping requirements regarding research activities? [010]
Data collection and research planning activities are governed by documented work plans that ensure scientific goals are achievable and appropriate to the mission of the USGS and that research can be interpreted appropriately; these work plans are reviewed by appropriate experts and approved at some level higher than the project chief, such as the Science Center Director. [Read More]
Where can I find additional guidance on requirements related to authorship of USGS information products? [011]
Available guidance for authorship includes a Survey Manual chapter, FAQs, and other tools. [Read More]
Do final technical project progress reports to cooperators or partners have to go through the FSP review and approval process? [012]
Yes, all scientific information products, including those submitted to an agency that has provided funding to the USGS, must be peer reviewed and receive Bureau approval. [Read More]