What Fundamental Science Practices (FSP) are, why they are required, and the relationship of FSP to the Science Publishing Network and Publications Warehouse. Includes basic requirements for product review and approval, disclaimers, ORCIDs, advocacy, acknowledgments, personal communications, unpublished data, and data release (including emergency/immediate release; restricted release).
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.
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.
What types of scientific information are excluded from the FSP requirements? [003]
Examples excluded from FSP requirements include poster sessions and materials used in oral presentations that are presented once and not disseminated; immediate release, time-sensitive products; non-science news releases and other media relation products; and internal and external correspondence that does not include interpretative science.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
