Authorship and Contributorship

In accordance with the principles of transparency and best practices in scholarly publishing as set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA), and World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), this policy outlines the requirements for authorship and contribution, ensuring clear and explicit attribution of contributions in published works. As an open-access journal applying the CC-BY-SA license, authors retain copyright over their articles while granting broad permission for distribution and reuse. This journal adheres to the Core Practices outlined by COPE.

Authorship Criteria

 

Authorship of scholarly articles must be based on substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. To be considered an author, individuals must meet all of the following criteria:

- Substantial Contribution: Authors are expected to make significant intellectual contributions to the article, such as research conception or design, data acquisition, analysis, interpretation, and drafting or revising the manuscript for important intellectual content.

- Approval of Final Version: All authors must approve the final version of the article and agree to take responsibility for its content.

- Accountability:  Authors must be able to explain and defend their research findings in public forums if required.

 

Contribution Statement

To promote transparency and avoid misunderstandings, a contribution statement may be requested along with the manuscript submission. This statement must explicitly identify each author’s contribution to the research. This statement will not be published but must reflect the individual role played by each author.

 

Dispute Resolution

 In cases of disputes or disagreements regarding authorship, the editorial board will follow a structured process to investigate and resolve the issue. The involved parties will be asked to provide evidence of their contributions to the research. Reviews may also seek guidance from COPE or other relevant organizations to ensure a fair and impartial resolution. Personal disputes between authors will not be involved or handled by the editorial board.

 

Changes to Authorship

 Requests to add, remove, or reorder authors after manuscript submission will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Such requests must be supported by written explanations from all involved authors, providing detailed reasons for the changes. The editorial board will carefully evaluate these requests and may consult with journal advisors and review COPE guidelines if necessary.

 

Honorary and Ghost Authorship

Honorary authorship (gift authorship) and ghost authorship (uncredited contributions) are not accepted. Individuals who make only minor contributions to the research or article should be properly acknowledged in the acknowledgments section but will not be listed as authors. Active efforts are made to prevent and address cases of honorary and ghost authorship.

 

Conflict of Interest Statement

 Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the interpretation of their research in their submission. Conflicts of interest may include financial interests, affiliations, or personal relationships that could undermine the impartiality and credibility of the work. The journal encourages full transparency in these disclosures.

 

Compliance with Ethical Guidelines

Authors must adhere to the ethical guidelines and standards applicable in their research field. This includes obtaining appropriate permissions for the use of copyrighted materials, obtaining informed consent from human subjects, and ensuring ethical treatment of animals in research.

 

Review of Authorship Policy

 The authorship policy will be reviewed and updated periodically in line with developments in scholarly publishing practices and recommendations from relevant organizations. Any revisions to this policy will be promptly communicated to authors and published on the website.