Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI Policy

Asian Journal of Qualitative Research (AJQR) recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools may assist authors, reviewers, editors, and other contributors in certain aspects of scholarly publishing. Their use must remain consistent with academic integrity, transparency, confidentiality, research ethics, and responsible scholarly practice.

1. Responsible Use of AI

AI and GenAI tools may be used to support legitimate research and writing activities where appropriate. However, the use of such tools must not compromise the originality, accuracy, integrity, confidentiality, or ethical standards of scholarly work.

Authors remain fully responsible for the content, accuracy, interpretation, and integrity of their submitted manuscripts, regardless of whether AI tools were used during their preparation.

2. AI Cannot Be an Author

AI systems, including generative AI tools, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to Asian Journal of Qualitative Research (AJQR).

Authorship requires human responsibility for the scholarly work, including accountability for the content, interpretation, ethical compliance, and final approval of the manuscript.

3. Disclosure of Substantive AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI when it has made a substantive contribution to the preparation of a manuscript.

Disclosure may be required where AI has been used for activities such as:

  • generating substantial portions of text;

  • developing or substantially restructuring scholarly arguments;

  • generating or substantially modifying research content;

  • generating images, figures, tables, or other research outputs;

  • assisting with analysis or interpretation in a substantive manner; or

  • other uses that materially contribute to the intellectual or scholarly content of the manuscript.

The disclosure should identify the AI tool used and briefly describe how it was used.

4. Routine Language Assistance

Routine use of AI-based tools for spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, or straightforward language improvement does not normally require a detailed AI-use statement, provided that the tool has not generated or materially changed the scholarly content of the manuscript.

Authors remain responsible for reviewing and approving all such changes.

5. Accuracy and Verification

Authors must carefully verify all AI-assisted content before submission. AI-generated outputs may contain inaccurate information, fabricated references, incorrect interpretations, or other errors.

Authors must therefore:

  • verify factual claims;

  • verify citations and references;

  • ensure that quotations are accurate;

  • confirm that sources actually exist and support the claims made;

  • ensure that research findings have not been altered or misrepresented; and

  • take full responsibility for the final manuscript.

6. AI-Generated References and Citations

AI-generated references must not be accepted without independent verification. Authors must ensure that every citation and reference included in a manuscript is genuine, accurate, and relevant.

AI systems should not be treated as authoritative scholarly sources merely because they generate an answer or citation.

7. AI-Generated Images, Data and Research Content

If AI or GenAI tools are used to generate or substantially modify images, figures, datasets, analytical outputs, or other research materials, the use must be appropriately disclosed where relevant to the manuscript.

Authors must also comply with applicable copyright, licensing, research ethics, and institutional requirements.

AI must not be used to fabricate, manipulate, falsify, or deceptively alter research data, evidence, images, or findings.

8. Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers must protect the confidentiality of manuscripts and unpublished research materials.

Reviewers must not upload, submit, or otherwise disclose confidential manuscript content, unpublished data, reviewer reports, or other protected information to publicly accessible generative AI systems or other AI tools where confidentiality cannot be assured.

Reviewers remain responsible for the confidentiality, accuracy, and integrity of their assessments.

9. Use of AI by Editors

Editors must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and related editorial information.

Any use of AI-assisted tools in editorial processes must be undertaken responsibly, with appropriate human oversight and without compromising confidential manuscript information or the independence of editorial decision-making.

AI tools do not replace the judgment and responsibility of editors.

10. Human Responsibility and Oversight

AI-assisted work must always remain subject to meaningful human review and oversight.

The use of AI does not transfer responsibility for scholarly content from the author, reviewer, or editor to the AI system or its developer.

Asian Journal of Qualitative Research (AJQR) considers human accountability essential to responsible scholarly publishing.

11. Misuse of AI

The following practices are considered inconsistent with responsible scholarly conduct:

  • presenting AI-generated material as entirely original human scholarship where disclosure is required;

  • using AI to fabricate or falsify data, evidence, references, or research findings;

  • using AI to manipulate images or research outputs deceptively;

  • submitting unverifiable or fabricated AI-generated citations;

  • concealing substantive AI use where disclosure is required;

  • using AI to breach confidentiality; and

  • using AI in any manner that violates research ethics, copyright, or applicable academic standards.

Suspected misuse may be investigated under the journal's Publication Ethics and Research Integrity Policy.

12. Suggested AI Disclosure Statement

Where substantive generative AI assistance has been used, authors may include a statement such as:

“During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name of AI tool] for [brief description of use]. The authors reviewed and verified the output and remain fully responsible for the content, accuracy, interpretation, and integrity of the manuscript.”

13. Editorial Independence

The use of AI tools by authors, reviewers, or editors must not influence the independent academic evaluation of a manuscript.

Editorial decisions at Asian Journal of Qualitative Research (AJQR) remain the responsibility of human editors and are based on the journal's stated scholarly, ethical, and peer-review criteria.

14. Policy Updates

This policy may be updated as AI technologies, scholarly publishing standards, ethical expectations, and applicable legal or institutional requirements develop.

Contact: editor@ajqr.ibexinstitute.org