Final answer:
Ghost authorship is the practice of attributing authorship of a work to someone who did not contribute to its creation. It is considered unethical as it undermines transparency and accountability in research.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ghost authorship refers to the practice of attributing authorship of a work to someone who did not contribute to its creation. This can happen in academic writing, where an individual may be named as an author even though they did not make any significant contributions. It is considered unethical and undermines the principles of transparency and accountability in research.
Ghost authorship can occur for various reasons, such as when a senior researcher or professor adds their name to a publication to enhance their reputation or when someone is paid to write an article but is not credited as the author. This practice is frowned upon in academic and scientific communities because it disregards the importance of proper credit and intellectual contributions.