Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use and Disclosure Policy

1. Purpose and Scope

The International Journal of Multidisciplinary Inquiry (IJMI) recognizes the growing use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in academic research, scholarly writing, and manuscript preparation. While these technologies may support certain research and writing activities, their use must remain consistent with the principles of academic integrity, transparency, originality, and responsible scholarly conduct.

This policy establishes the journal's requirements concerning the use and disclosure of generative AI tools by authors, reviewers, and editors. It applies to all manuscripts submitted to IJMI, irrespective of discipline, research methodology, or article type.

IJMI acknowledges that the capabilities and applications of generative AI continue to develop. Accordingly, the journal's approach emphasizes human responsibility, appropriate disclosure, independent verification, and the protection of research integrity.

2. Acceptable Use of Generative AI

Authors may use generative AI tools to assist with language refinement, grammatical correction, manuscript organization, and improvements to clarity and readability. Such assistance is permissible provided that the authors retain control over the intellectual content and independently review the resulting material.

Generative AI may also support certain research-related activities, including the organization of information, development of preliminary analytical ideas, or assistance with technical tasks, where its use is appropriate to the research design and does not compromise scholarly or methodological integrity.

The acceptability of AI assistance depends on its purpose, extent, and implications for the reliability and originality of the submitted work. Authors must exercise particular care when AI tools are used in connection with data analysis, interpretation, literature synthesis, or the preparation of substantive scholarly arguments.

AI-generated material must not be accepted uncritically. Authors remain responsible for verifying factual accuracy, references, quotations, analytical claims, and the appropriateness of any AI-assisted output incorporated into the manuscript.

3. Prohibited and Unacceptable Practices

The use of generative AI must not result in fabricated research data, invented references, fictitious quotations, misleading findings, or the misrepresentation of research procedures.

Authors must not present AI-generated content as independently verified research evidence where such verification has not occurred. Generative AI must not be used to invent interviews, participant responses, experimental observations, statistical results, ethical approvals, or other information represented as having originated from genuine research activities.

AI assistance must not be used to conceal plagiarism, misrepresent authorship, manipulate citations, or circumvent the journal's requirements concerning originality and research integrity.

Where AI-generated images, figures, or other visual materials are used, authors must ensure that their inclusion is appropriate to the scholarly purpose, does not misrepresent research evidence, and complies with relevant ethical, copyright, and disclosure requirements.

IJMI may request clarification or supporting information where the use of generative AI raises substantive concerns about the authenticity, reliability, or integrity of a manuscript.

4. Authorship and Human Accountability

Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to IJMI. Authorship requires intellectual responsibility, accountability for the scholarly work, approval of the final manuscript, and the ability to respond to questions concerning its accuracy and integrity.

All responsibility for AI-assisted content remains with the human authors. The use of generative AI does not diminish an author's obligations concerning originality, ethical compliance, accurate reporting, appropriate citation, or the validity of research findings.

Authors must ensure that AI assistance does not replace the scholarly judgment, critical engagement, and independent intellectual contribution expected in academic research.

5. Mandatory Declaration of Generative AI Use

All manuscripts submitted to IJMI must include a declaration concerning the use or non-use of generative AI tools during manuscript preparation.

Where generative AI has been used, authors must identify the tool or tools involved and describe the nature and purpose of the assistance provided. The declaration should be sufficiently clear to enable the editorial team and readers to understand the extent of AI involvement.

Authors who have not used generative AI must provide a statement confirming its non-use.

The declaration should be included in the manuscript's designated declarations section or supplied through the submission process as instructed by the journal. Where identifying information is involved, authors should follow the journal's double-blind review requirements.

Routine use of conventional spelling, grammar, reference-management, or other software functions that do not generate substantive content does not ordinarily require disclosure under this policy.

6. Recommended Declaration Statements

Authors should adapt the following statements to accurately reflect their circumstances.

Where generative AI has been used:

"The authors used [name of AI tool and provider] to assist with [describe the specific purpose, such as language editing, manuscript organization, or other relevant activities]. All AI-assisted outputs were critically reviewed and verified by the authors, who retain full responsibility for the manuscript's originality, accuracy, content, and scholarly integrity."

Where generative AI has not been used:

"The authors declare that no generative artificial intelligence tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript."

Where different authors have used different tools or where AI assistance has contributed to research activities beyond manuscript preparation, the declaration must be expanded to reflect the actual circumstances accurately.

Disclosure of AI use does not, by itself, constitute grounds for manuscript rejection. Editorial assessment will consider whether the disclosed use is appropriate, transparent, and consistent with the journal's research integrity requirements.

7. Generative AI in Peer Review and Editorial Assessment

Manuscripts submitted to IJMI are confidential scholarly documents. Reviewers and editors must not upload unpublished manuscripts, reviewer reports, research data, or confidential editorial correspondence to external generative AI systems without explicit authorization from the journal and appropriate safeguards.

Reviewers are responsible for preparing independent, evidence-based evaluations reflecting their own scholarly judgment. Generative AI must not be used to produce or substitute for substantive peer review assessments without authorization.

Editors must similarly exercise independent professional judgment in evaluating manuscripts, interpreting reviewer reports, and making editorial decisions. The use of technological assistance must not compromise confidentiality, impartiality, or accountability.

Where authorized AI assistance is used in editorial or review activities, its application must remain consistent with the journal's confidentiality, data protection, and publication ethics requirements.

8. AI Detection and Research Integrity Assessment

IJMI recognizes that automated AI-detection tools may produce uncertain or inaccurate assessments of whether text was generated or assisted by artificial intelligence.

Consequently, an AI-detection score or automated classification shall not, by itself, be treated as conclusive evidence of inappropriate AI use or research misconduct.

Where concerns arise regarding undisclosed AI assistance, fabricated information, unreliable references, or other possible integrity violations, the editorial team may undertake further assessment and request clarification from the authors.

Editorial action will be based on the available evidence, the nature and seriousness of the concern, and the journal's established publication ethics procedures.

Failure to disclose material AI use, deliberate misrepresentation of research activities, or the submission of fabricated scholarly content may result in requests for clarification, manuscript revision, rejection, or appropriate post-publication action.

9. Policy Review and Compliance

All authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to comply with this policy and with the broader ethical requirements established in IJMI's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.

The journal may revise its requirements as generative AI technologies, scholarly publishing practices, and relevant ethical guidance develop.

IJMI remains committed to supporting responsible technological innovation in academic research while preserving human accountability, scholarly independence, and the integrity of the published research record.