Authorship Criteria

MUST: Journal of Mathematics Education, Science and Technology recognizes authorship as an important aspect of academic integrity and responsible scholarly publishing. Authorship must accurately reflect the significant intellectual and academic contributions of individuals to the research and the preparation of the manuscript.

1. Criteria for Authorship

An individual may be listed as an author of a manuscript submitted to MUST if they have made a significant contribution to one or more of the following aspects of the research:

  1. Research conception and design: Contributing to the formulation of research ideas, research questions, objectives, theoretical frameworks, or research design.

  2. Research implementation: Making substantial contributions to conducting the research, collecting data, developing learning media or instruments, performing experiments, or implementing research procedures.

  3. Data analysis and interpretation: Contributing substantially to the analysis, interpretation, or evaluation of research findings.

  4. Manuscript preparation: Participating in drafting the manuscript or critically revising it to improve its intellectual and scientific content.

Authors are expected to understand the research to which they have contributed and to take responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of their contributions.

2. Responsibilities of Authors

All authors listed in a manuscript submitted to MUST must:

  1. Approve the final version of the manuscript before submission.

  2. Agree to the inclusion of their names as co-authors and confirm their respective contributions.

  3. Ensure that the research findings are presented accurately and objectively.

  4. Ensure that relevant sources, data, ideas, and previously published works are properly acknowledged and cited.

  5. Disclose any relevant conflicts of interest and sources of research funding.

  6. Cooperate with the editorial team in addressing questions concerning the accuracy, integrity, or ethical conduct of the research.

  7. Agree to the submission of the manuscript to MUST and ensure that it is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.

The corresponding author is responsible for coordinating communication with the editorial team and confirming that all co-authors have approved the submitted manuscript.

3. Contributions That Do Not Qualify for Authorship

Individuals whose contributions are limited to administrative assistance, funding acquisition without substantial intellectual involvement, routine data collection, technical assistance, proofreading, or general supervision should not automatically be listed as authors.

Such contributions may be appropriately acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section, with the individuals' permission. The acknowledgment must clearly distinguish these contributions from those that qualify for authorship.

The provision of funding, institutional position, academic seniority, or supervisory status alone does not establish eligibility for authorship.

4. Authorship Order and Changes in Authorship

The order of authors should be determined collectively by the authors according to their respective contributions to the research and manuscript preparation. All authors should agree on the authorship order before submitting the manuscript.

In accordance with MUST's authorship policy, changes in the number of authors are not accepted. Therefore, the author list must be carefully finalized before submission. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all individuals who qualify for authorship are included and that no individual is listed without an appropriate contribution.

5. Prevention of Unethical Authorship Practices

MUST does not accept unethical authorship practices, including:

  • Gift authorship: Listing an individual who has not made a significant contribution to the research.

  • Ghost authorship: Excluding an individual who has made a substantial contribution to the research and manuscript.

  • Honorary authorship: Including an individual solely because of their academic position, institutional authority, or personal relationship with the research team.

  • Misrepresentation of contributions: Providing inaccurate information about the roles or contributions of individual authors.

All authors must ensure that authorship reflects actual scholarly contributions and complies with the principles of transparency, fairness, and academic integrity.

6. Editorial Review of Authorship

The editorial team of MUST reserves the right to request clarification regarding authorship and individual contributions when necessary. Any concerns about authorship eligibility, author identification, or compliance with this policy will be addressed in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies.

Failure to comply with the authorship criteria may result in editorial action, including rejection of the manuscript or other appropriate measures in accordance with the journal's policies.

By submitting a manuscript to MUST, the corresponding author confirms that the authorship information is accurate, all listed authors have approved the final manuscript, and the submission complies with the journal's authorship criteria and publication ethics requirements.