Single Authors – an Exterminated Race – Increasing Numbers by Increasing Credit?

Natascha Gaster^a, Jorge S. Burns^b, Michael Gaster^a

^aLaboratory of Molecular Physiology, Departments of Pathology and Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense, Denmark

^bLaboratory of Cell Biology and Advanced Cancer Therapies, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University Hospital of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy

Received 09.07.2014, accepted 05.08.2014, published 02.09.2014

JUnQ, 5, 1, Views, XXX, 2015

Over the last years the number of manuscripts published by single authors has diminished. This is despite single author articles having qualities unattainable in multi-author-papers. They present an opportunity to publish opinionated and creative thoughts unbound by compromise. Moreover they represent a unique vision of the research process. This being said they may be undervalued, as they are appraised similarly to the multi-author manuscripts and this might call for a change in evaluation metrics.