Authorship Criteria

1. Authorship Criteria

Progressive Physics Journal (PPJ) is committed to maintaining transparency, fairness, and integrity in scientific authorship. Authorship should reflect substantial intellectual and scholarly contributions to the research and manuscript. Individuals who have contributed to the work but do not meet the authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately in the Acknowledgments section, with their permission.

To qualify for authorship, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Substantial contribution to the research: Contribute significantly to the conception or design of the study; the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data; the development of theoretical models; or the design and implementation of experimental or computational methods.

  2. Contribution to the manuscript: Participate in drafting the manuscript or critically revising it for important intellectual content.

  3. Final approval: Review and approve the final version of the manuscript before submission and publication.

  4. Accountability: Agree to be accountable for their contributions and to help ensure that questions concerning the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

All four criteria must be fulfilled for an individual to qualify as an author. These criteria apply equally to the first author, co-authors, and corresponding author.

2. Responsibilities of Authors

All authors are responsible for the integrity and accuracy of the research and its presentation. Authors are expected to:

  • Ensure that the research is original and that all sources of information, data, and previously published work are properly cited.

  • Ensure that the data, methods, analyses, and conclusions are reported accurately and transparently.

  • Confirm that all listed authors meet the journal's authorship criteria.

  • Ensure that all authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript and consented to its submission to PPJ.

  • Disclose relevant funding sources, conflicts of interest, and other information required by the journal.

  • Cooperate with the editorial team in responding to reviewers' comments and addressing questions concerning the integrity of the research.

  • Promptly notify the editor if a significant error is identified in a submitted or published manuscript.

3. First Author and Corresponding Author

The first author is generally the individual who has made the most substantial contribution to the research and manuscript preparation, as agreed upon by all authors.

The corresponding author is responsible for communicating with the editorial office throughout the submission, peer-review, revision, and publication processes. The corresponding author must:

  • Ensure that the names, affiliations, and order of all authors are accurate and agreed upon.

  • Confirm that all authors meet the authorship criteria and have approved the submitted manuscript.

  • Communicate editorial decisions, reviewer comments, and revision requests to all co-authors.

  • Submit the required declarations, including funding and conflict-of-interest statements, where applicable.

  • Ensure that all co-authors are informed of the final publication version.

The corresponding author does not automatically have greater authorship rights or responsibility than other authors. All authors share responsibility for the integrity of the published work.

4. Author Order and Changes in Authorship

The order of authors should be determined collectively by the authors based on their respective contributions to the research and manuscript. PPJ does not prescribe a universal author-ordering system, as conventions may differ across research disciplines.

Any addition, removal, or rearrangement of authors after manuscript submission must be requested in writing by the corresponding author, with a clear explanation and written agreement from all authors affected by the change. The request must be submitted to the editorial office for consideration and approval.

Changes in authorship will not be accepted solely to recognize an individual's position, seniority, funding contribution, or institutional affiliation. The editorial team may request supporting documentation when necessary.

5. Non-Author Contributions

Individuals who have contributed to the research but do not meet all authorship criteria should not be listed as authors. Such contributions may be acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section, subject to the individual's permission.

Examples of contributions that may warrant acknowledgment rather than authorship include:

  • General supervision or administrative support without substantial intellectual contribution.

  • Provision of research facilities, equipment, or materials without significant involvement in the research.

  • Assistance with routine data collection, technical procedures, or laboratory operations without meeting the full authorship criteria.

  • Language editing, proofreading, or formatting assistance without substantial intellectual contribution.

  • Financial or logistical support without participation in the intellectual development of the study.

The provision of funding, research facilities, equipment, or materials alone does not automatically qualify an individual for authorship.

6. Unacceptable Authorship Practices

PPJ does not accept the following practices:

  • Gift or honorary authorship: Listing an individual as an author despite their failure to meet the authorship criteria.

  • Ghost authorship: Omitting an individual who has made substantial contributions to the research and meets the authorship criteria.

  • Guest authorship: Including an individual primarily to increase the manuscript's credibility, visibility, or likelihood of acceptance.

  • Unauthorized authorship changes: Adding, removing, or changing the order of authors without the agreement of the relevant authors and approval of the journal when required.

  • Misrepresentation of contributions: Providing false or misleading information about an individual's role in the research or manuscript preparation.

Suspected authorship misconduct will be handled in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies. Depending on the circumstances, the editorial team may request clarification, suspend the editorial process, reject the manuscript, or take appropriate action in relation to a published article.

7. Authorship Disputes

Any dispute regarding authorship, author order, or individual contributions should first be addressed by the authors and their affiliated institutions, where appropriate.

If a dispute arises during the submission or publication process, the editorial team may temporarily suspend the editorial process until the matter is resolved. PPJ will not independently determine the relative academic contributions of individual authors but may request written confirmation of the agreed authorship arrangement or refer the matter to the relevant institution.

If an authorship dispute concerns a published article, the journal may consider an appropriate correction or other editorial action based on the available evidence and the applicable publication ethics procedures.

8. Editorial Review and Enforcement

PPJ reserves the right to request clarification or supporting documentation regarding authorship and individual contributions when concerns arise.

If an authorship issue is identified before publication, the journal may suspend the review process until the issue is resolved. If concerns arise after publication, PPJ may investigate the matter and consider an appropriate correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the nature and severity of the issue.

All authors are expected to comply with this policy as a condition of submitting a manuscript to Progressive Physics Journal.