Which of the following is the primary criterion for authorship?

The primary criterion for authorship in academic and research contexts is having made a significant intellectual contribution to the work. This means that authorship is not just assigned based on ancillary contributions, such as funding or procedural assistance; rather, it is reserved for those who have contributed original ideas, design, execution, or interpretation that advance the research project.

Authorship must reflect the actual intellectual effort that has gone into the creation and formulation of the research findings. Typically, guidelines from academic journals and professional institutions specify that substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of research are key factors in determining authorship.

In contrast, simply being the first to submit a manuscript does not guarantee that the submitting individual had a significant intellectual role in the research. Likewise, providing financial resources is important for research, but it does not equate to contributing intellectually to the project. Additionally, while editing and revising a manuscript require effort, they may not necessarily involve the kind of intellectual contributions that justify authorship unless accompanied by substantial input regarding the research itself.