Authorship Policy
- Introduction
The Journal maintains a clear and ethical authorship policy that aligns with internationally accepted standards. Authorship should reflect meaningful scholarly contributions and uphold transparency, fairness, and responsibility in the research and publication process.
- Authorship Criteria
To qualify as an author, an individual must meet all the following criteria, as outlined by the ICMJE:
- Substantial contribution to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.
- Drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content.
- Final approval of the version to be published.
- Accountability for all aspects of the work and the integrity and accuracy of any part of it.
Funding acquisition, general supervision, or data collection alone does not justify authorship.
- Order of Authors
- The order of authors should reflect the relative contribution of each author and must be decided by mutual agreement among all co-authors.
- The editorial board will not intervene in authorship order disputes but may request clarification if inconsistencies arise.
- Corresponding Author
- The corresponding author is responsible for:
- Managing communication with the journal throughout the submission, review, and publication process.
- Ensuring that all listed co-authors have approved the final version of the manuscript and have agreed to its submission.
- Changes to Authorship
- Adding or removing an author after submission is not permitted unless:
- Written consent is provided by all authors, including the one being added or removed.
- A clear explanation is submitted to justify the change.
- The editorial board reserves the right to reject unjustified authorship changes.
- Acknowledgment of Non-Author Contributions
- Individuals or institutions that contributed to specific aspects of the study (e.g., statistical analysis, language editing, or technical support) but do not meet the authorship criteria should be mentioned in the Acknowledgments section, subject to their consent.
- Conflict of Interest
- All authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of the research.
- Misconduct in Authorship
- In cases of suspected misconduct, including ghost authorship, guest authorship, or unjust exclusion of contributors, the journal will follow the investigation and resolution procedures recommended by COPE.
- Policy Review
This policy is reviewed biennially or as needed to remain aligned with evolving best practices in academic publishing.
- Contact
For queries or to report concerns regarding authorship, please contact the Editorial Board via the journal's email address