Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “attribution” in multiple ways but the key ones I would like to focus on here are: “the act of attributing something” or “an ascribed quality, character, or right.”
There is a practice we learned early on in our educational journeys: citing the work of others. We learned that when something was not written by us and we used it in our own writing, we needed to cite it. We could not simply adopt it as ours without citing it nor make someone believe it was ours just because. We also learned about plagiarism and learned it was wrong. The shocking part was that we could not even reuse passages of things we previously wrote ourselves without noting where they came from.
In certain professions and fields, attribution has become a practice that shows respect for the author and what they have produced. This makes a real difference for individuals in marginalized positions who have limited time for creativity and growth. It also provides recognition for their work, particularly if they are unseen and disrespected. Sometimes written work such as articles and books is perceived differently from information shared in an in-person or virtual presentation or handout. The question is what makes one thing more valuable than the other?
Many moons ago, when I started my professional career in ASP, the reverberating phrase was: “ensure that you attribute any materials or ideas you use.” I heard that at every conference I attended. Folks would also suggest how to cite them. It became so ingrained in me that even when someone told me I could use their materials, I would still say, “professor so and so at X Law school shared this and allowed me to use their materials,” followed by, “I am grateful because I do not think I could come up with this on my own.” It just felt very uncomfortable to simply use someone’s material without saying anything. I also did not view attribution as indication of a law of ability, knowledge, or expertise on my part.
I have noticed that attributing materials, handouts, and the like happens less often these days. I have seen slide decks that included exact language and a majority of those in the room knew where it came from. I have also seen an entire presentation built on materials and programming that someone else developed over the years. It was strange to watch someone present another person’s body of work as their own. It felt uncomfortable. Granted, certain conventions become norms which can mean less originality overall but these weren’t just similar ideas. The examples and phrases were exact.
What are your thoughts? Cringe or am I too sensitive?
(Goldie Pritchard)
