What is the primary criterion for authorship of a paper?

The primary criterion for authorship of a paper is making a significant intellectual contribution to the work. This means that individuals who are listed as authors should have played a key role in the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research. This criterion ensures that authors are accountable for the content of the work, and it reflects their direct involvement in the scholarly process.

In academic research, authorship is not merely a recognition of producing work; it requires a substantial engagement with the research topic and its outcomes. Thus, those authorship credits serve as a way to acknowledge the contributions of individuals who have critically influenced the research outcomes.

Other options, like possessing advanced degrees, having the most citations in previous work, or having funding for the research, do not inherently equate to making a meaningful contribution to the research. While advanced degrees may reflect expertise, they do not guarantee involvement in a specific project. Citations may indicate a researcher's past impact but do not relate directly to their role in any given study. Funding is essential to carrying out research but does not define authorship in terms of intellectual contribution.