Attribution of authorship order and corresponding author in scientific publications: A survey of Brazilian researchers in the Agronomy field

Abstract

This study investigates the perceptions of Brazilian researchers in agronomy regarding the order of authorship and the role of the corresponding author in scientific publications utilizing a survey of 380 responses. Key findings reveal that most researchers see the first author as the primary executor of the research, and the last author as the leader. The study also highlights a significant association between authorship order, research credibility, and citation impact, with differing views based on the type of institutional affiliation. In addition, the survey shows a preference for the corresponding author to be either the first or the last author, emphasizing their role in communication with journals. The results suggest that while the authorship order is crucial for recognizing contributions, the corresponding author’s role is primarily seen as a formality. The study calls for more precise guidelines on authorship practices and further research into authorship dynamics in different scientific fields.