Authorship and Contribution Policy

The Borneo Journal of Language and Education (BENJOLE) is committed to responsible authorship, transparent attribution of scholarly contributions, and accountability in academic publishing. This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to the journal and is informed by internationally recognized principles of publication ethics, including guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Authorship must accurately reflect the intellectual contributions of individuals involved in the research and manuscript preparation. All authors are expected to understand their responsibilities and agree to the submission and publication of the work.

1. Criteria for Authorship

An individual may be listed as an author only when all the following conditions are satisfied:

Substantial scholarly contribution: The individual has made a substantial contribution to the conception or design of the study; the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of research data; or the development of the theoretical or conceptual framework.
Drafting or critical revision: The individual has participated in drafting the manuscript or critically revising it for important intellectual content.
Final approval: The individual has reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript submitted for publication.
Accountability: The individual agrees to be accountable for their own contributions and to help ensure that questions concerning the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Meeting only one of these conditions is insufficient for authorship. Individuals who have contributed to the research but do not meet all the criteria should be acknowledged appropriately, with their consent.

2. Author Responsibilities

All authors share responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of the published work. Each author must:

Ensure that their contributions are accurately represented.
Approve the final manuscript and agree to its submission to BENJOLE.
Ensure that the research and manuscript comply with applicable ethical standards.
Provide accurate information concerning authorship, affiliations, funding, and conflicts of interest.
Ensure that sources, data, methods, and other relevant materials are appropriately reported and acknowledged.
Cooperate with editorial inquiries concerning research integrity, errors, or ethical concerns before and after publication.
Support appropriate corrections or other editorial actions when significant errors or ethical problems are identified.

Authorship must not be based solely on seniority, position, institutional affiliation, financial support, administrative authority, or general supervision.

3. Corresponding Author

The corresponding author serves as the primary contact between the authors and the journal throughout submission, peer review, revision, and publication.

The corresponding author is responsible for:

Ensuring that all authors meet the journal's authorship criteria.
Confirming that all authors have approved the submitted manuscript.
Obtaining agreement from all authors regarding the authorship list and order.
Entering accurate author names, affiliations, email addresses, and contribution information into the OJS submission system.
Coordinating responses to editorial and reviewer comments.
Communicating editorial decisions and revision requests to all co-authors.
Ensuring that all required declarations and supporting documents are submitted.
Coordinating responses to questions or concerns about the published work.

The corresponding author does not assume sole responsibility for the research. All authors remain accountable for their respective contributions and share responsibility for the integrity of the work.

4. Author Order and Equal Contributions

The order of authors must be agreed upon by all authors before submission. Author order should reflect the nature and extent of each individual's scholarly contribution and follow the conventions of the relevant discipline.

Any designation of equal contribution or joint first authorship must be agreed upon by the authors, clearly indicated in the manuscript where permitted, and approved by the editorial team.

The journal does not prescribe a universal author-ordering system because conventions may differ across research designs and academic disciplines. However, the authorship order must be transparent, justified, and agreed upon by all listed authors.

5. Changes in Authorship

Any proposed change to the authorship list after submission, including the addition or removal of an author or a change in author order, must be formally requested from the editorial office.

The request must include:

A clear explanation of the reason for the proposed change.
A description of the relevant contributions, where applicable.
Written agreement from all existing authors and any individuals being added or removed.
Confirmation that all authors agree to the revised authorship order.

Changes in authorship require editorial approval before the manuscript proceeds to publication. The journal may request additional information or supporting documentation before making a decision.

If an authorship dispute arises, the journal may suspend editorial processing while seeking clarification. Where appropriate, the journal may refer the matter to the relevant institution or follow applicable publication ethics guidance. The journal will not determine disputed institutional employment or research-conduct matters beyond its editorial remit.

6. Contributors and Acknowledgements

Individuals who have contributed to the research but do not meet all the authorship criteria should be acknowledged in the manuscript, with their permission.

Contributions that may be acknowledged include:

Technical or administrative assistance.
Data collection support without substantial intellectual contribution.
Language editing, proofreading, or translation assistance.
Provision of materials, facilities, or other research resources.
General supervision or institutional support that does not meet the authorship criteria.

Acknowledgements should describe contributions accurately and must not be used to conceal inappropriate authorship arrangements.

Individuals who meet the authorship criteria must not be excluded from the author list. Conversely, individuals who do not meet the criteria must not be added solely because of seniority, institutional position, or personal relationships.

7. Artificial Intelligence and Authorship

Artificial intelligence tools, including generative AI systems, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because they cannot assume the responsibilities, accountability, or ethical obligations required of human authors.

Authors who use AI tools in research or manuscript preparation must disclose such use in accordance with BENJOLE's Artificial Intelligence Policy and applicable submission requirements.

Disclosure may be required for substantial AI-assisted activities, including:

Generating or substantially rewriting manuscript content.
Translating or editing substantial portions of the manuscript.
Assisting with data analysis, coding, or interpretation.
Generating or modifying images, figures, or other research materials.
Using AI systems as part of the research methodology.

Authors remain responsible for verifying AI-generated content, checking the accuracy of references and factual claims, protecting confidential information, and ensuring that the use of AI does not compromise research integrity or intellectual property rights.

The use of AI does not justify listing a tool as an author or transferring responsibility for the manuscript to that tool. Authors must follow the journal's separate AI policy for detailed disclosure requirements and restrictions.

8. Research Integrity and Authorship Misconduct

BENJOLE does not permit authorship practices that misrepresent individual contributions. Prohibited practices include:

Gift or honorary authorship: Listing an individual who has not made the required scholarly contributions.
Ghost authorship: Excluding an individual who has made qualifying contributions without an appropriate justification.
Undisclosed authorship changes: Adding, removing, or rearranging authors without the required agreement and editorial approval.
Misrepresentation of contributions: Providing inaccurate or misleading information about an author's role.
Unauthorized authorship: Listing an individual as an author without their knowledge or consent.

Suspected authorship misconduct will be assessed in accordance with BENJOLE's Publication Ethics and Research Misconduct Policy. Depending on the circumstances and the available evidence, the journal may request clarification, suspend editorial processing, reject a manuscript, or take appropriate post-publication action.

9. Policy Compliance

By submitting a manuscript to BENJOLE, the corresponding author confirms that the authorship information is accurate and that all listed authors have approved the manuscript and agreed to its submission.

The journal may request contribution statements, written confirmations, or other relevant documentation when necessary to verify authorship or resolve concerns.

This policy should be read together with BENJOLE's Author Guidelines, Publication Ethics and Research Misconduct Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy, and Artificial Intelligence Policy.

Editorial Contact: jurnal.benjole@uinsi.ac.id