How can researchers ensure ethical authorship practices?

Crediting only those who made significant contributions is essential for ensuring ethical authorship practices. This approach aligns with widely accepted guidelines, such as those set forth by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and other scholarly organizations, which define authorship based on substantial contributions to conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research.

This practice promotes accountability and integrity in the research process by ensuring that individuals who have actively and meaningfully participated in the work are recognized for their efforts. It helps to maintain the quality and reliability of published research by ensuring that those credited as authors can vouch for the work and stand behind its findings. Furthermore, it discourages the "gift authorship" phenomenon, where individuals are included as authors without having made any substantive contributions, which undermines the integrity of academic publishing.

In contrast, listing all possible contributors or including anyone involved in the research process could dilute the responsibility and accountability associated with authorship, as it may lead to the inclusion of individuals who did not contribute significantly to the research. Assigning authorship based solely on seniority is also problematic, as it does not reflect the actual contributions made to the work and can perpetuate inequitable practices in academic and research environments.