Generative AI Policy

Innovations in Pedagogy and Technology (IPT) recognises that generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies can support research, academic writing, and scholarly communication. The journal permits the responsible use of such technologies, provided that their use is transparent, appropriate, and consistent with academic integrity.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and other individuals involved in the journal's editorial and publishing processes.

All individuals remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, confidentiality, and reliability of the work they produce or evaluate, regardless of whether AI tools have been used.

IPT draws on relevant recommendations and guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

1. Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies to support certain aspects of manuscript preparation, including:

- Improving grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language clarity.

- Assisting with translation and language editing.

- Supporting literature exploration and the organisation of research ideas.

- Assisting with coding, data processing, and analytical tasks, where scientifically appropriate.

- Supporting the preparation of tables, figures, illustrations, and other visual materials, where permitted and appropriately disclosed.

However, AI tools must not replace the authors' own scholarly contributions, critical thinking, research judgement, or responsibility for the reported findings.

Authors must not use AI tools to:

- Fabricate or manipulate research data, results, references, citations, or research evidence.

- Generate fictitious participant responses, interview transcripts, or other research materials and present them as genuine empirical data.

- Produce misleading images, figures, or visual evidence that misrepresent the research or its findings.

- Present AI-generated content as original human research or intellectual contributions without appropriate disclosure.

- Generate or substantially alter content in ways that misrepresent the research process, findings, or contributions of the authors.

Authors must independently verify all AI-assisted content, including factual statements, calculations, references, quotations, and interpretations, before submission.

Disclosure Requirements

Authors must disclose any substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in preparing a manuscript. Routine use of basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation checking tools does not normally require disclosure.

Where disclosure is required, authors must identify:

- The name of the AI tool or service used.

- The purpose and nature of its use.

- The relevant parts of the research or manuscript in which it was used.

The disclosure should be included in an appropriate section of the manuscript, such as an AI Use Statement, Acknowledgements, or Methods section, depending on the nature of the use.

For example:

AI Use Statement

During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name of tool/service] for [specific purpose]. The authors subsequently reviewed and revised the relevant content and take full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the submitted work.

Where AI tools have been used in data collection, data analysis, coding, or figure generation, authors must provide sufficient methodological details in the relevant sections of the manuscript to enable readers to understand and assess their use.

AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors. All authors remain accountable for the content of the manuscript and must meet the journal's authorship requirements.

2. Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers must protect the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and related review materials.

Reviewers must not upload or disclose unpublished manuscripts, any part of a manuscript, confidential research information, or review reports to publicly accessible or third-party AI tools where confidentiality cannot be assured.

Reviewers must not use generative AI to replace their independent scholarly assessment or to generate substantive peer review reports.

If reviewers use AI-assisted tools for permitted language-related support, they must ensure that no confidential manuscript content or identifying information is disclosed. Any substantive use of AI in preparing a review report must be disclosed to the handling editor.

Reviewers remain fully responsible for the accuracy, fairness, originality, and appropriateness of their comments and recommendations.

3. Use of AI by Editors

Editors must maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the editorial process.

Editors must not upload unpublished manuscripts, confidential research information, reviewer reports, or other confidential editorial materials to AI tools or services where confidentiality cannot be assured.

AI tools must not replace editors' independent academic judgement in assessing manuscripts, selecting reviewers, evaluating peer review reports, or making editorial decisions.

Editors remain responsible for all editorial assessments, communications, and decisions. Any permitted use of AI-assisted tools must be subject to appropriate human oversight, confidentiality safeguards, and verification.

4. AI-Generated Images, Figures, and Other Materials

Authors who use generative AI to create or modify images, figures, illustrations, or other visual materials must disclose such use where it is substantive or relevant to the presentation of the research.

Authors must ensure that AI-generated or AI-modified materials:

- Do not misrepresent research data, experimental results, or evidence.

- Do not infringe copyright, intellectual property, privacy, or other applicable rights.

- Are accurately described and appropriately attributed where required.

- Are consistent with the journal's requirements for figures and research reporting.

AI-generated images must not be presented as authentic photographs, experimental observations, or research evidence when they do not represent actual research materials.

The journal may request original images, underlying data, or additional explanations where necessary to assess the authenticity and integrity of submitted materials.

5. Undisclosed or Inappropriate Use of AI

IPT reserves the right to investigate suspected undisclosed or inappropriate use of AI in submitted or published work.

Where concerns arise, the journal may request explanations, relevant documentation, original research materials, or other supporting information from the authors.

AI-detection tools and other screening technologies may be used as part of the editorial assessment. However, AI-detection results alone will not be treated as conclusive evidence of misconduct. Any concerns will be evaluated in context and, where appropriate, through further investigation.

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the issue, the journal may take appropriate action, including requesting revisions or disclosure, rejecting a manuscript, issuing a correction, retracting a published article, or referring the matter for further investigation.

Such cases will be handled in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics and relevant COPE guidance.