Authorship Criteria

The Quest Journal adheres to clear authorship criteria to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in attributing credit for research contributions. These criteria align with internationally recognized guidelines, such as those by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and aim to avoid unethical practices like honorary or ghost authorship.

1. Authorship Criteria

To qualify as an author, individuals must meet all of the following criteria:

• Substantial Contribution: Authors should have made a significant intellectual or practical contribution to the research, which may include study design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation.
• Manuscript Drafting and Revisions: Authors must have been involved in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content.
• Approval of the Final Version: Authors must review and approve the final manuscript version before submission and agree to its submission to The Quest Journal.
• Accountability for Work: Authors must agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring that any questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

If an individual does not meet all four criteria, they should not be listed as an author. The Quest Journal requires all authors to confirm that they have met these criteria upon manuscript submission.

2. Contributors and Acknowledgments

Individuals who contributed to the research but do not meet the full authorship criteria may be acknowledged as contributors in an acknowledgment section. Examples of contributors who may be recognized include:

• Technical Support: Those who provided essential equipment, tools, or technology used in the study.
• Data Collection or Analysis Assistance: Individuals who helped with data gathering or analysis but were not involved in drafting or revising the manuscript.
• Editorial or Writing Assistance: Those who helped with language editing, formatting, or technical writing.
• Funding and Resources: Individuals or organizations that provided funding, materials, or other support essential to the research.

3. Corresponding Author Role

The corresponding author is responsible for managing communications with the journal during the submission, peer review, and publication process. This author also ensures that all co-authors are listed and that they have reviewed and approved the final manuscript version. The corresponding author serves as the primary contact for post-publication inquiries.

4. Changes to Authorship

• Prior to Submission: Authors are expected to agree on authorship roles and order before submission. Any disputes should be resolved among the authors before submitting to the journal.
• After Submission: If there is a need to add or remove an author after submission, a written request explaining the reasons for the change must be submitted to the editorial office, with approval from all original authors and the individual being added or removed.

5. Disclosure of Contributions

To ensure transparency, The Quest Journal may ask authors to include a statement detailing the specific contributions of each author (e.g., "Conceptualization: A.B.; Data Collection: C.D.; Analysis: E.F.") as part of the manuscript. This information helps clarify each author's role in the research and avoids disputes over contribution.

6. Ethical Compliance

All authors are expected to adhere to ethical standards regarding authorship and contribution, including avoiding gift (honorary) or ghost authorship. The Quest Journal may request institutional confirmation of authorship claims in cases of dispute or concern over ethical compliance.