Authorship Criteria

 

An individual must meet all four of the following criteria simultaneously to qualify as an author:

  1. Substantial Contribution: Has made significant contributions to the conception and design of the research, data collection, or the analysis and interpretation of data.
  2. Manuscript Preparation and Revision: Has actively participated in drafting the manuscript or critically reviewing and revising its intellectual content.
  3. Final Approval: Has provided final approval of the version of the manuscript to be submitted or published.
  4. Accountability and Responsibility: Agrees to take full responsibility for all aspects of the work and ensures that any questions related to the accuracy or integrity of the research can be appropriately addressed.

Individuals Who Do Not Qualify as Authors (Acknowledgment Only)

Individuals with the following contributions do not qualify for authorship and should instead be recognized in the Acknowledgment section:

  1. Providing only financial support, laboratory facilities, or administrative assistance.
  2. Lending equipment or serving as a department chair, dean, or supervisor who merely signs administrative documents without making a direct intellectual contribution.
  3. Assisting only with basic data collection without participating in data analysis or manuscript preparation.
  4. Providing only language editing, proofreading, or translation services.

Unacceptable Authorship Practices

  1. Ghost Authorship: Excluding the name of a genuine contributor who meets the criteria for authorship.
  2. Gift, Guest, or Honorary Authorship: Including the name of an individual who has not made a legitimate contribution (e.g., an official, colleague, or honorary supervisor) solely to enhance the reputation or perceived credibility of the publication.
  3. Sale of Authorship: Buying, selling, or trading authorship positions in a publication.