Authorship Policy
The African Journal of Advanced Pure and Applied Sciences (AJAPAS) adheres to strict guidelines regarding authorship to ensure ethical practices, transparency, and accountability in published research. Our policy is based on the principle that all individuals listed as authors must have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the work and agree to take public responsibility for its content.
The following criteria, adapted from widely accepted academic standards, define authorship for submissions to AJAPAS:
- Substantial Contribution: Each author must have made a significant intellectual contribution to the work. This includes contributions to at least one of the following aspects: a. Conception or Design of the Work: Formulating the research idea, planning the methodology, or designing the experiments. b. Data Acquisition: Carrying out experiments, collecting data, or gathering information. c. Data Analysis or Interpretation: Analyzing the collected data, interpreting the results, or drawing conclusions.
- Drafting or Critical Revision: Each author must have participated in drafting the manuscript or revising it critically for important intellectual content. This involves contributing to the writing process beyond just reviewing the final draft.
- Final Approval: All authors must have given their final approval of the version to be published. This signifies their agreement with the content and findings presented in the manuscript.
- Accountability: Each author must agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Corresponding Author Responsibilities
The corresponding author plays a crucial role in the submission process and post-publication communication. The responsibilities of the corresponding author include:
- Serving as the primary contact for all communications with the journal before and after publication.
- Ensuring that all co-authors approve the manuscript's final version and agree to its submission for publication.
- Managing all communication between the journal and other co-authors.
- Ensuring that all authors meet the authorship criteria.
- Collecting and providing conflict of interest disclosures from all authors.
Changes in Authorship
- Any request for changes to the authorship list (addition, deletion, or reordering of authors) after the initial manuscript submission must be formally submitted to the Editor.
- Such requests must be accompanied by a clear explanation for the change and require explicit written approval from all original authors and any proposed new authors. The journal reserves the right to decline authorship changes if there is insufficient justification or if the request raises ethical concerns.
Non-Author Contributors
Individuals who have contributed to the research but do not meet all four criteria for authorship should be acknowledged in the "Acknowledgments" section. This includes persons who provided technical support, writing assistance, or general supervision of a research group.
AJAPAS is committed to preventing authorship disputes and maintaining the integrity of the scientific record. Adherence to this policy is mandatory for all submissions.
