What is considered the primary criterion for authorship in research?

The primary criterion for authorship in research is making significant intellectual contributions. This means that an individual must be involved in the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research study. Their contributions should be substantial enough to warrant the responsibility for the research content and to ensure accountability for the work published. This criterion aligns with the ethical standards set by many scholarly journals and organizations, which emphasize that authors should be actively engaged in the creation of the work, rather than merely overseeing it or contributing to it in a minor way.

Having a unique writing style, being the first to submit a manuscript, or having supervisory oversight of the project do not fulfill the essential requirement of making significant intellectual contributions to the research. Authorship should reflect those who have meaningfully shaped the research question, methodology, or analysis rather than incidental involvement or administrative roles.