v2026.1CASRAI Dictionary 714 entries across 20 domains · CC-BY 4.0714 entries · CC-BY 4.0

Dictionary termTrack AStablev2026.2

Conceptualization lead vs supporting

Under the CRediT taxonomy, the distinction between the contributor who led the formulation of the overarching research question, aims, or ideas for a project (Conceptualization: lead) and those who contributed to but did not originate the conceptual framing (Conceptualization: supporting).

ByCASRAI Editorial Board

· Last updated 21 May 2026

Examples

Worked examples

Is an instance
A doctoral candidate listed as 'Conceptualization: lead' alongside their supervisor as 'Conceptualization: supporting' to reflect that the candidate originated the research question

Counter-examples

Looks similar, but isn't

Not an instance
Listing the most senior author as 'Conceptualization: lead' by convention, when in fact a junior author originated the idea, misrepresents the contribution

Editorial commentary

The Conceptualization role is one of two CRediT roles (with Methodology) most closely tied to ICMJE authorship criterion 1 (‘substantial contribution to the conception or design of the work’). The lead/supporting qualifier helps distinguish original idea from refinement and is increasingly required by publishers.

References

NISO CRediT Standard (ANSI/NISO Z39.104-2022)
Brand et al. 2015 Learned Publishing

Also known as

CRediT conceptualization qualifier

Machine-readable encodings

Use in your systems

JATS XML <role> element

xml

<role vocab="credit"
      vocab-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/"
      vocab-term="Conceptualization lead vs supporting"
      vocab-term-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/conceptualization-lead-vs-supporting" />

Schema.org DefinedTerm (JSON-LD)

json

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  "@type": "DefinedTerm",
  "name": "Conceptualization lead vs supporting",
  "identifier": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/conceptualization-lead-vs-supporting",
  "description": "Under the CRediT taxonomy, the distinction between the contributor who led the formulation of the overarching research question, aims, or ideas for a project (Conceptualization: lead) and those who contributed to but did not originate the conceptual framing (Conceptualization: supporting).",
  "inDefinedTermSet": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/domain/credit-extensions-and-adjacent-contribution-vocabularies/",
  "url": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/conceptualization-lead-vs-supporting",
  "sameAs": [
    "CRediT conceptualization qualifier"
  ],
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
}