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
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]
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]
Can new interpretive material be posted on a USGS public web page? [013]
No, a web page cannot be used to release new interpretive material. [Read More]
What are the circumstances under which access to USGS-funded scientific data may be restricted from release? [014]
Access to or release of the USGS data may be restricted because of security, privacy, confidentiality, or other constraints, or data mentioned in the published product are not used as a basis for the conclusions. [Read More]
Under what circumstance may scholarly publications refer to unpublished data funded by a non-USGS organization? [015]
If the non-USGS funded data have not been made publicly available by the data owner, the USGS can suggest or request but cannot require the data be made publicly available. If the data are not made available, a statement indicating that at the time of publication the data were not available from the responsible non-USGS agency should be included in the associated information product. [Read More]
Under what circumstance may USGS-funded unpublished data be cited in scholarly publications? [016]
Citations referring to unpublished data are allowed when the citation refers to content or 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]
Does a report of project progress that is noninterpretive or that includes interpretations only from previously published sources require a disclaimer statement before it is delivered to a cooperator, steering council, or stakeholder group? [162]
A nonendorsement disclaimer statement, if appropriate, is the only statement that may be needed in a report of project progress that is noninterpretive or that includes interpretations only from previously published sources. Note, however, that published sources must always be cited.
How is reporting of project progress related to courtesy reviews by collaborating cooperators? [161]
Reports of project progress are not related to the collaborator/partner courtesy reviews. While both types of reporting may contain new, interpretive content, a progress report discusses the status of project work and a draft of a final project report provided to collaborators for courtesy review discusses the results of the project. [Read more]