Grandeur of Authorship

Abstract

Journals in every scientific discipline have guidelines for authorship. Authors byline is as important as the research itself because authorship implies responsibility and accountability of the published work. It provides recognition and respect. Usually when conducting a research or preparing a manuscript of findings of a research,  it is believed that authors have made substantial intellectual contribution to publication, however, the concept of author and authorship criteria is still the subject of great debate regarding the order of authors byline. Practice of gifted, ghost or guest authorship within scientific publication makes it more controversial. There are various guidelines as to whom to name as authors and the order of authorship. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommends that authorship be based on the following 4 criteria: ¹

1. Substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; AND
2. Drafting the work or revising it critically for important intellectual content; AND
3. Final approval of the version to be published; AND
4. Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.