Writing and researching an article for an academic journal is often a team effort and budding authors should be aware of the important criteria to follow

Being listed as an author on a peer-reviewed paper or book chapter brings rewards, not only to the individual but also to their research group and institution. The issue of authorship is embedded in research integrity, but a common question from novice writers is who should be an author?

The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors’ (ICMJE) definition of the roles and responsibilities of authors is widely accepted as the gold standard. However, the principles are often not well understood. Thinking through the ICMJE’s four criteria can greatly assist in dealing with the issue of authorship.

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The first criterion is that to be an author the individual must have made ‘substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data’. This means that each author must have been actively involved in the planning, data collection or data analysis phases. Such involvement extends beyond simply being a research team member.

Authors need to engage in conversations about appropriate authorship

The second criterion requires authors to have been involved in ‘drafting the work or reviewing it critically for important intellectual content’. Providing potential authors with an opportunity to contribute to the writing and review process can be a collegial way of working. However, ongoing failure to contribute to or provide comments on drafts of work should prompt conversations about whether the person remains an author.

‘Promoting good authorship practice ensures that those who have contributed are fairly recognised for their intellectual work’

The final criteria relate to authors having ‘final approval of the version to be published’ and an ‘agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work’. Authors must not only be aware of any submissions for publication but must also have reviewed the final content to ensure they are willing to take public responsibility for the submission, and the accuracy and integrity of the work it reports.

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All authors need to engage in conversations about appropriate authorship in their research teams. Contributors who have been involved in the research or development of the publication but do not meet the ICMJE criteria should be acknowledged but not listed as authors.

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Promoting good authorship practice ensures that those who have contributed are fairly recognised for their intellectual work.

Elizabeth Halcomb is professor of primary healthcare nursing, School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia and editor of Nurse Researcher