Generative AI Policy

The Elementary Journal (TEJ) recognizes that generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly used in academic research, writing, data analysis, translation, and other scholarly activities. The journal permits the responsible use of such tools, provided that their use does not compromise research integrity, originality, transparency, confidentiality, or the reliability of published work.

This policy applies to authors, editors, and reviewers involved in the submission, peer-review, and publication processes of TEJ. It is intended to ensure that generative AI is used responsibly and that human researchers retain full accountability for their scholarly work.

TEJ's policy is informed by the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and its Core Practices.

Use of Generative AI by Authors

Authors may use generative AI tools to assist with language editing, grammar correction, translation, outlining, summarization, and other supportive tasks. However, AI tools must not replace the authors' intellectual responsibility for the research, interpretation of findings, or scholarly conclusions.

Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, validity, and integrity of their submitted manuscripts, including any content generated or modified using AI tools.

Authors must verify all AI-assisted content before submission. This includes checking factual claims, quotations, citations, references, calculations, translations, and interpretations. AI-generated references must be independently verified because such tools may produce inaccurate or nonexistent citations.

Generative AI must not be used to fabricate or falsify data, research findings, participant statements, research procedures, images, or other evidence. Authors must also ensure that AI-assisted content does not infringe copyright, violate privacy, or misrepresent the contributions of other individuals.

Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose substantive use of generative AI tools when those tools contribute materially to the preparation or development of the manuscript. The disclosure should identify the name of the tool, its purpose, and the nature of its contribution.

The disclosure should be included in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as an AI Use Disclosure or Acknowledgments section, depending on the nature of the use and the journal's submission requirements.

For example:

“During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name of AI tool] for [specific purpose]. The authors reviewed and verified the generated content and take full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the final manuscript.”

Routine spelling, grammar, or punctuation assistance may not require a separate disclosure unless it materially changes the content or interpretation of the manuscript. When in doubt, authors are encouraged to disclose the use of AI transparently.

AI Tools and Authorship

Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to TEJ. Authorship requires human accountability, the ability to approve the final manuscript, and responsibility for addressing questions concerning the integrity of the work.

Human authors must meet the journal's authorship requirements and accept responsibility for all aspects of the submitted manuscript, including AI-assisted content.

Use of AI in Research and Data Analysis

Authors who use AI tools in research design, data processing, statistical analysis, coding, interpretation, or other substantive research activities must describe their use sufficiently to support transparency and reproducibility.

Authors must independently validate AI-assisted analytical outputs and ensure that the selected methods are appropriate for the research questions and data. The use of AI must not be presented as a substitute for methodological rigor, ethical research procedures, or appropriate scholarly judgment.

When research involves personal, confidential, or sensitive data, authors must ensure that the use of AI tools complies with applicable ethical requirements, institutional policies, data-protection obligations, and participant-consent conditions.

Use of AI-Generated Images, Tables, and Other Materials

AI-generated or AI-modified images, illustrations, tables, and other materials must not be used to misrepresent research evidence or findings.

Authors must disclose AI-generated or AI-modified visual materials when their use is substantive or relevant to the interpretation of the research. Any such materials must comply with applicable copyright, licensing, and research ethics requirements.

AI-generated images must not be presented as authentic photographs, experimental results, documentary evidence, or original research data when they are not.

Use of Generative AI by Editors

Editors may use appropriate digital tools to support administrative or editorial tasks, provided that these tools do not compromise confidentiality, impartiality, or editorial independence.

Editors must not rely solely on AI-generated assessments to make decisions about manuscript quality, originality, research validity, or publication ethics. Editorial decisions must remain under human control and be based on scholarly judgment, peer-review reports, and the journal's editorial standards.

Editors must not upload confidential manuscripts or identifiable author information to external AI tools unless the tools are authorized for such use and appropriate confidentiality and data-protection safeguards are in place.

Use of Generative AI by Reviewers

Reviewers must assess manuscripts based on their expertise and independent scholarly judgment. AI tools must not replace the reviewer's critical evaluation or be used to generate unverified assessments of a manuscript.

Reviewers must not upload confidential manuscripts, unpublished research, author identities, or peer-review correspondence to public or unauthorized AI systems.

If AI tools are used to assist with reviewing, reviewers remain responsible for the accuracy, fairness, confidentiality, and integrity of their reports. Reviewers must comply with the journal's confidentiality requirements and disclose substantive AI assistance to the editor when appropriate.

Confidentiality, Privacy, and Copyright

All users of generative AI tools must protect confidential information, personal data, unpublished research, and copyrighted materials.

Authors, editors, and reviewers must consider the data-handling practices, privacy safeguards, and terms of service of AI tools before using them in connection with journal submissions or peer review.

The use of AI does not remove the obligation to respect intellectual property rights, acknowledge sources, protect research participants, or comply with applicable legal and ethical requirements.

AI Detection and Editorial Assessment

TEJ may use appropriate tools and editorial procedures to investigate concerns about undisclosed AI use, plagiarism, fabricated references, or other forms of publication misconduct.

AI-detection results must not be treated as conclusive proof of misconduct on their own. Any concerns will be assessed in context and may involve examination of the manuscript, supporting evidence, author explanations, and other relevant information.

The journal reserves the right to request clarification or supporting documentation from authors when necessary to establish the integrity and transparency of a submission.

Non-Compliance with This Policy

Failure to disclose substantive AI use, fabrication of research evidence, misuse of confidential information, or other violations of this policy may result in editorial action.

Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, TEJ may request clarification, require manuscript revision, reject a submission, suspend the editorial process, or issue a correction or retraction for a published article where appropriate.

All cases will be handled fairly and consistently with the journal's Publication Ethics principles and applicable publication ethics guidance.

Policy Review

TEJ may periodically review and update this policy in response to developments in generative AI technology, scholarly publishing standards, and research ethics. Authors, editors, and reviewers are responsible for complying with the version of the policy applicable to their submission or editorial activity.