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 comprehensive FAQs not only provide further explanation of the FSP and related publishing policies but also describe the specific procedures and decision making necessary to meet the
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 a USGS Bureau-approved preprint? [192]
A USGS-authored, peer reviewed, Bureau approved manuscript posted on a preprint server. [Read more]
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]
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]
What criteria and guidance are followed for acknowledgments included in information products? [017]
Acknowledgments in USGS scientific information products must be limited to only those that contributed materially to the scientific investigation and the information product and (or) those that provided content-specific assistance to authors during the related investigation. [Read More]
What is an Open Researcher and Contributor Identifier (ORCID) iD? [018]
An ORCID iD is a unique, persistent identifier that can be obtained by researchers free of charge. An assigned ORCID iD is associated with an individual regardless of their affiliated institutions and records an author’s history of publications. [Read More]
Why do USGS authors need an ORCID iD and what information must be provided in their profiles? [019]
All USGS authors (including coauthors) must have a ORCID iD account (set to public) in order to identify USGS authored or funded publications. The ORCID iD record should include the author’s first and last name, USGS email address, and USGS employment affiliation. [Read More]
What is the benefit of an ORCID iD? [020]
An ORCID iD helps to highlight and clarify Bureau research and authorship by USGS employees. The Publications Warehouse also uses ORCID iDs to update and link to externally published information products by USGS authors. [Read More]
What FSP and other requirements related to authorship of USGS scientific information products must be followed? [021]
If the author has full-time, part-time, or volunteer (including emeritus) USGS affiliation or shared affiliation; or if the author is working under a USGS grant, memorandum of understanding, or other cooperative agreement, then FSP requirements must be followed regardless of whether the information product will be published by the USGS or by an outside entity. [Read more]
What criteria and guidance are available for determining or attributing authorship of information products? [022]
Authors are the ones responsible for the preparation and content of the information product. Authorship should be limited to the individual or individuals who make a substantial intellectual contribution to conception or design of the investigation; the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data; and the content of the information product. [Read more]
How may coauthorship order be addressed for group projects that result in multiple products or sections within a larger product? [023]
In such instances, group members determine the order of coauthorship from one information product to another as they deem appropriate. In the case of lengthy information products, group members determine if authorship of individual sections may be separately designated to recognize specialized contributions. [Read more]