How to Determine Author Order in Research

Author order should reflect the team's agreed assessment of contributions, discussed openly and recorded early. There is no universal rule, so a transparent, documented process matters more than any particular formula.

Steps

1. Confirm who qualifies as an author using the ICMJE criteria.
2. List contributions such as conception and design, data acquisition, analysis, drafting and revision, supervision.
3. Identify conventions in your field and journal (for example the first author as the main contributor and the last as senior author).
4. Agree the order by discussion, using the contribution list. Some groups use a points table, but any scoring system should be agreed beforehand and adjusted by discussion, not applied mechanically.
5. Decide the corresponding author (see Corresponding Author vs First Author).
6. Record the agreement in writing and share with all authors.
7. Revisit if roles change, and update in writing.

A simple contribution matrix

Rows are people; columns are contribution types (design, data, analysis, drafting, revision, approval). Mark each as major, minor or none, and use the pattern as the basis for discussion. MRN's free authorship worksheet provides a matrix.

If you cannot agree

Ask a neutral senior colleague to mediate. Follow your institution's policy. Contact the journal's editor only through the process the journal describes. COPE has guidance on authorship disputes.

Illustrative example

Invented for teaching. In a team of four, two members drafted and analysed (major), one supplied data and revised (moderate), and one supervised (senior). The team agrees order: lead drafter first, analyst second, data contributor third, supervisor last, with an equal contribution note for the first two.

Common pitfalls

• Deciding order at submission, under time pressure.
• Letting seniority alone determine order.

Key takeaways

• Agree early, in writing, based on contribution.
• Revisit as the work evolves.

This page is general educational information about research methods. It is not medical, legal or regulatory advice; follow your institution's ethics board and your target journal's instructions.