CRediT Taxonomy

The CRediT taxonomy is a standardized system for describing author contributions to a research article. The taxonomy includes 14 contributor roles, such as conceptualization, methodology, and writing – original draft. Each author is asked to describe their individual contributions using the CRediT taxonomy, providing a more detailed understanding of each author's specific role in the research.

The CRediT taxonomy was developed by a group of publishers, researchers, and other stakeholders who recognized the need for a more standardized and transparent approach to authorship. By providing a clear and consistent way for authors to describe their contributions, the CRediT framework aims to reduce ambiguity and potential conflicts in authorship and provide readers with a more complete understanding of each author's role in the research.

The CRediT taxonomy can be used in conjunction with traditional authorship criteria, such as those outlined in the example policy above. By using both criteria, journals and publishers can provide a more comprehensive and transparent approach to authorship, ensuring that all contributors receive appropriate credit for their work.

When authors submit their articles to a journal, they are typically asked to provide their CRediT contributions in a separate section of the manuscript or in a separate document. The CRediT descriptions will be published alongside the article, providing readers with a more detailed understanding of each author's specific contributions to the work.

Overall, the CRediT framework is an important step forward in promoting transparency and accountability in authorship and can help ensure that all contributors receive appropriate credit for their work. Here are the 14 contributor roles included in the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) framework, along with a brief explanation of each:

1. Conceptualization: The development of the research idea or hypothesis.
2. Methodology: The planning and execution of the study, including the design, data collection, and analysis.
3. Software: The development or design of software used in the study.
4. Validation: Evaluating and validating the study's methodology and results.
5. Formal Analysis: The statistical or mathematical analysis of the data.
6. Investigation: The conduct of the study, including data collection and analysis.
7. Resources: The provision of funding, equipment, or other resources for the study.
8. Data Curation: The management and organization of the data.
9. Writing – Original Draft: The initial writing and development of the manuscript.
10. Writing – Review & Editing: The revision and editing of the manuscript.
11. Visualization: The creation of visualizations or other graphical representations of the data.
12. Supervision: The oversight and management of the study, including the guidance of other team members.
13. Project Administration: The administrative tasks related to the study, including managing budgets and timelines.
14. Funding Acquisition: The acquisition of funding for the study.

These contributor roles can be used individually or in combination to describe each author's specific contributions to the research. By providing a more granular and standardized approach to authorship, the CRediT framework can help ensure that all contributors are appropriately recognized for their work, and can promote transparency and accountability in the publication process.