Authorship Policies

The Middle East Empowerment Research (MEER) recognizes the critical importance of authorship in attributing credit and accountability for published works. Authorship is based on the principles of providing an accurate account of events and acknowledging those who have made significant intellectual contributions to the study. The criteria for authorship apply to all forms of intellectual activity, including printed and digital releases of text, data, and images, emphasizing accountability and responsibility for the content.

Criteria for Authorship

All individuals who have made significant intellectual contributions to the study, such as contributions to the research question, design, analysis, interpretation, and written description, should be listed as authors. Authorship is reserved for those who have contributed substantially to knowledge. Technical services, translation, patient identification, material delivery, funding, or administrative oversight do not qualify as authorship contributions.

One author, often the corresponding author, acts as a "guarantor" responsible for the entire work's integrity. While all authors must approve the final version of the text, it is acknowledged that team-based research may involve complementary skills, limiting some authors to specific areas of the study.

Number, Names Order, and Author Disputes

MEER does not restrict the number of authors for each manuscript. Multiple authors, especially from different scientific or academic institutions, enhance the manuscript's scientific and literature structure. Authors are encouraged to include a paragraph titled "Authors' Contribution" when not all authors share equal involvement in various stages of the study. The editorial board may request additional details about authorship contributions and explanations, and in cases of nepotism concerns, names may be omitted.

Authors themselves determine the sequence in which their names appear, reflecting their contributions and agreements. Authorship disputes should ideally be resolved locally before the peer-review process, but the Editor in Chief may assist in special cases. Any changes in authorship order or omissions should be supported by a written request from all original authors at different stages of the manuscript process.

Conflict of Interest

Authors are required to include a paragraph titled "Conflict of Interest" at the end of their submitted manuscript, preceding the references section. In this section, authors should transparently disclose all potential conflicts of interest related to submission, peer-review processing, acceptance, and funding of the manuscript. This disclosure must be approved by all contributing authors and serves to maintain the integrity of the publication process.