diff --git a/dspace/config/spring/api/associateitem-service.xml b/dspace/config/spring/api/associateitem-service.xml
index f6e0f279ae7..cd182c57f00 100644
--- a/dspace/config/spring/api/associateitem-service.xml
+++ b/dspace/config/spring/api/associateitem-service.xml
@@ -18,16 +18,21 @@
                                     CUSTOM
                                 </value>
                             </property>
-                            <property name="users">
+                            <property name="items">
                                 <list>
                                     <value>crispj.investigator</value>
                                 </list>
                             </property>
-                            <property name="discovery" value="publication" />
+                            <!-- discovery index configuration that is shown on the associate-item-page -->
+                            <property name="discovery" value="researchoutputs" />
+                            <!-- metadatafield where the metadata is being created . It must be authority controlled -->
                             <property name="metadatafield" value="dc.relation.project" />
+                            <!-- additional check for entity types. discovery indexes might display multiple types and the authority might only support one type -->
                             <property name="itemTypeSource" value="Publication" />
                             <property name="itemTypeTarget" value="Project" />
+                            <!-- disable the authorization at the item where the metadata is being created. -->
                             <property name="disableAuthSource" value="true" />
+                            <!-- additional conditions can be specified which must be fulfilled on the source and/or target item, when some associateitem request is made -->
                             <!--
                             <property name="conditionSource" value-ref="" />
                             <property name="conditionTarget" value-ref="" />