What is the primary criterion for establishing authorship?

Establishing authorship primarily hinges on significant intellectual contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research work. This criterion ensures that authors have played an essential role in the research process, reflecting the intellectual investment that justifies their credit as authors. It is a crucial aspect of academic integrity and accountability in research, recognizing that authors have had a substantial impact on the work they are associated with.

In contrast, correcting grammatical mistakes, providing financial support, or merely reading a manuscript draft do not equate to the substantive contributions necessary for authorship. Those actions can be important in the research and publication process but do not meet the threshold of significant intellectual involvement that defines authorship. This understanding is fundamental in the ethical landscape of research, where proper attribution ensures that contributions are recognized appropriately, lending credibility and accountability to the scholarly work.