Generative AI Policies

Generative AI Policy

The Journal of Religious and Socio-Cultural (JRSC) acknowledges the significant potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in enhancing research productivity and the overall manuscript preparation process. While recognizing the value of AI technologies for scholarly research, the journal is committed to ensuring that the application of such tools aligns with ethical standards, maintains academic integrity, and respects the intellectual contributions of human authors.

Purpose and Scope of Generative AI Use

Generative AI tools can assist researchers in various stages of the academic process, including literature review, content organization, writing support, and data analysis. These tools are designed to aid authors in synthesizing complex information, generating hypotheses, improving clarity, and refining language. However, it is crucial to emphasize that the use of AI should never replace the critical thinking, analytical skills, and expertise that are central to academic research and writing.

The JRSC Generative AI Policy aims to provide clear guidelines for the responsible use of AI in manuscript preparation, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the academic publishing process.

AI-Assisted Contributions and Author Responsibility

  1. Disclosure of AI Use:
    Authors are required to disclose the use of any generative AI tools in the preparation of their manuscript at the time of submission. This disclosure should specify the AI tool(s) used, the specific tasks or parts of the manuscript where AI was employed (e.g., literature synthesis, data analysis, writing assistance), and the extent of its involvement. The disclosure statement must be included in a separate section of the manuscript, before the references list. An example of the disclosure statement is as follows:

    Example Disclosure Statement:
    "During the preparation of this manuscript, the author(s) used [NAME OF AI TOOL] for [SPECIFIC TASK]. After using this tool, the author(s) thoroughly reviewed and edited the manuscript to ensure it represents their own analysis, insights, and contributions."

  2. Human Oversight:
    While AI tools may assist in the process, authors retain full responsibility for the content of their manuscripts. Authors must ensure that the final manuscript is original, accurate, and reflects their independent scholarly work. AI tools should not replace human expertise, critical analysis, or decision-making at any stage of the research and writing process.

  3. Ethical Standards and Integrity:
    Authors must adhere to ethical standards when using AI tools. This includes ensuring that the AI-generated content is factually accurate, free from plagiarism, and properly cited. Any references generated by AI must be verified for accuracy and relevance. Authors must ensure that AI tools are not used to fabricate data, mislead readers, or compromise the quality and integrity of the research.

  4. Transparency:
    Transparency is a key principle in scholarly publishing. Authors must provide clear and accurate information regarding their use of AI tools, including how the AI tool contributed to the manuscript. This ensures that readers and reviewers can distinguish between human-generated content and AI-assisted content.

Prohibited Uses of AI

The JRSC does not permit the following uses of AI in manuscript preparation:

  • AI as a Substitute for Human Research: AI should not replace the human process of research, hypothesis generation, or analysis. Authors should not rely on AI to conduct original research, generate data, or interpret results without human validation and oversight.

  • Plagiarism and Misrepresentation: Authors must not use AI to generate text, data, or citations that are not based on valid scholarly work. AI tools should not be used to plagiarize or fabricate content. The content generated by AI must always be checked for originality and proper attribution.

  • Excessive or Sole Reliance on AI: The use of AI tools should be supplementary, not primary. Authors should not use AI as the sole method for writing, data analysis, or generating content. AI tools are designed to assist, not replace, the scholarly contributions of human authors.

AI Tools and Peer Review Process

  1. AI in the Peer Review Process:
    JRSC prohibits the use of generative AI tools by reviewers during the peer review process. The integrity of the review process must remain intact, and AI tools should not be used to generate feedback, evaluate manuscripts, or assist in decision-making. Reviews must be based on human judgment, expertise, and scholarly critique.

  2. AI-Generated Content in Manuscripts:
    JRSC will take appropriate measures to ensure that all content submitted for review is consistent with academic integrity standards. If AI-generated content is identified in a submitted manuscript, it will be evaluated for compliance with this policy, ensuring that it does not violate ethical or academic standards. Manuscripts with improperly disclosed or fabricated AI-generated content will be subject to rejection and further scrutiny.

Accountability and Responsibility

  1. Author Accountability:
    Authors are ultimately responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the content in their manuscripts. Even if AI tools are used, the responsibility for the final work lies with the authors, and they must ensure that all AI-generated content is properly reviewed, revised, and incorporated into the manuscript.

  2. Journal Responsibility:
    The JRSC is committed to maintaining high standards of scholarly publishing. The journal will ensure that the use of AI tools aligns with ethical publishing practices and will work with authors to ensure that proper disclosure is made. The journal reserves the right to investigate and take corrective action if the policy is not adhered to, including retracting published content if necessary.

Future Policy Review

The JRSC acknowledges that AI technologies are rapidly evolving, and the role of AI in academic publishing will continue to grow. As such, this Generative AI Policy will be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect new developments in AI technology, best practices, and evolving ethical standards in scholarly publishing. The journal remains committed to ensuring that its policies evolve in line with advancements in AI tools and their responsible use in research.