Plagiarism and AI Policy
Plagiarism and AI Use Policy
1. Plagiarism Policy
The journal maintains a strict policy against all forms of plagiarism, which is considered a serious violation of academic integrity and publication ethics.
1.1 Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
The direct copying of text, data, images, or ideas from previously published or unpublished work without proper attribution.
Paraphrasing substantial portions of another’s work without acknowledgment.
The submission of work that is not the author's own original creation, including content produced by others or acquired from external services.
All submitted manuscripts must be the original work of the author(s), must not have been previously published, and must not be under consideration elsewhere.
1.2 Plagiarism Screening
All manuscripts submitted to the journal are subject to plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate) prior to peer review. A similarity index above 15% (excluding references and commonly used phrases) may result in desk rejection, unless the overlap is properly cited and justified.
1.3 Editorial Action
If plagiarism is detected:
Prior to publication: The manuscript will be rejected immediately.
After publication: The journal reserves the right to retract the article, notify the authors' institution(s), and ban future submissions.
2. Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools
2.1 Acceptable Use of AI
The journal recognizes that AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, or translation software) may assist authors in language editing, grammar checking, or idea generation. However, such tools should only be used in a supportive capacity and must not replace the critical thinking, originality, and academic accountability of the author(s).
Acceptable uses include:
Improving spelling, grammar, or style.
Translating content (with human review).
Assisting with formatting or citation tools.
2.2 Unacceptable Use of AI
Authors must not:
Use AI to generate entire sections or drafts of a manuscript.
Submit content wholly or substantially authored by AI tools.
Attribute authorship or co-authorship to non-human tools or platforms.
Use AI to fabricate data, results, or citations.
Such practices may result in immediate rejection or retraction of the manuscript.
2.3 Disclosure Requirement
Authors must clearly disclose the extent and nature of AI assistance in the "Acknowledgments" or a dedicated section at the end of the manuscript. A sample disclosure might read:
"Portions of this manuscript were edited using an AI-based language model (e.g., Grammarly/ChatGPT) to improve clarity and grammar. The authors take full responsibility for the content and interpretation of all material presented."
2.4 Accountability
All authors remain fully responsible for the integrity, originality, and accuracy of their work, regardless of the use of AI tools. Editors and reviewers will treat AI-assisted content with heightened scrutiny to ensure scholarly standards are upheld.
3. Ethical Compliance
The journal adheres to the ethical standards outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all authors, reviewers, and editors to do the same. Violations of this policy will be investigated thoroughly and may lead to retraction, institutional notification, or other corrective actions as deemed necessary by the editorial board.
