Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Oct 13, 2021
Date Accepted: Jan 4, 2022
Development and Evaluation of Software for Objective Qualification and Order of Academic Authorship in Medical and Science Journals – Authorships.org
ABSTRACT
Background:
Qualification and order of authorship in scientific manuscripts are the main disputes in collaborative research work.
Objective:
The aim of this project was to develop an open-access, web-based platform for objective decision-making of authorship qualification and order, in medical and science journals.
Methods:
The design science process methodology was used to develop suitable software for authorship qualification and order. The first part of the software was designed to identify and differentiate between qualification for authorship versus acknowledgment, using items of the recommendations of the “international committee of medical journal editors” (research conception, execution and documentation). The second part addressed the order of authorship, using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for objective multiple criteria decision-making and ranking. The platform was evaluated qualitatively (n=30) and quantitatively (n=18) using a questionnaire, by international research collaborators worldwide.
Results:
Authorships.org represents an open-access software compatible with all major platforms and web browsers. Software usability and output were evaluated and presented on three existing clinical and biomedical research studies. All 18 international evaluators felt that the Authorships.org platform was easy to use or remained neutral, 59% were satisfied with the software output results while the rest were unsure, 59% would definitely use it future projects while 41% would consider it, 94% felt it may prove useful to eliminate disputes regarding authorship, 82% felt that it should become mandatory for manuscript submission to journals, while 53% raised their concern regarding the potential unethical use of the software as a tool.
Conclusions:
Authorships.org allows transparent evaluation of authorship qualification and order, in academic medical and science journals. Objectified proof of authorship contributions may become increasingly mandatory during manuscript submission in high quality academic journals.
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