Author Contributions and List in Scientific Papers

In scientific papers, the author list and their contributions are typically included as a way to give credit where credit is due and to provide transparency about who contributed what to the research. In general, authorship should only be given to individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to the research project. Those who have provided more minor contributions, such as administrative support or funding acquisition, should be acknowledged in the acknowledgments section instead.

Research is often a collaborative effort involving a team of researchers, except in cases such as monographs, argumentative essays, or literature reviews, which are typically written by a single author. Large, multidisciplinary studies require different areas of expertise, resulting in multiple authors who may have had multiple roles in the research process, including concept and/or design of the study, sample and/or data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and writing up and revising the work. Most journals have authorship requirements, typically requiring a significant intellectual contribution to the work, with providing equipment or funding without any additional role not considered an intellectual contribution. All authors usually participate in writing, revising, and approving the final submission of the paper.

The order of authorship on a paper is typically based on the researcher's contribution, although this can vary depending on the field or the recommended practice of the journal. In natural sciences, the lead researchers on the project often contributed the most and are listed as the first author(s), with additional authors having supporting roles, while the most senior researcher who played a big role in all aspects of the paper is listed as the last author. Some papers list authors alphabetically, while others include a footnote when some authors have contributed equally in some regards.

To increase transparency and standardize academic contributions, an industry-led working group developed the Contributor Role Taxonomy (CRediT) in 2015 to support researcher evaluation.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR

The corresponding author is typically one of the co-authors who plays a crucial role in the publication process. They are responsible for communicating with the journal, including submitting the manuscript and responding to peer review comments. Additionally, they serve as the main point of contact for any inquiries or critiques about the paper after it has been published. It is important for the corresponding author to have easy access to any necessary data or additional information that may be requested by the editor.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The acknowledgements section is used to express gratitude to individuals who have made a contribution to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship. These contributions may include proofreading the manuscript, providing administrative support, offering general supervision, securing funding, or providing any other form of support that does not involve intellectual contribution to the research and writing of the paper.

GIFT AND GHOST AUTHORSHIP

If someone is listed as an author on a paper despite not meeting the requirements for authorship, this is known as gift authorship or honorary authorship. This is considered a form of misconduct, particularly if it involves dishonesty about the extent of their participation. Instead, individuals who have contributed but not made a significant intellectual contribution should be acknowledged in the acknowledgements section.

On the other hand, ghost authorship occurs when someone has made a significant contribution to the research or writing of a paper but is not included in the author list. This can be particularly problematic when a junior researcher has done the majority of the field or laboratory work or analyses but is excluded from authorship. It denies them proper recognition for their work and allows others to take credit for their contributions. Additionally, when a third party is paid to conduct part of the work, such as analyses or writing, and this is not disclosed, it can also be considered ghost authorship. In some fields, it is common to hire medical writers to write up a paper, such as in industry-sponsored clinical trials.