Publication Ethics

Research and Publication Ethics Policy

Artificial Intelligence Studies (AIS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity and publication ethics. This policy applies to all parties involved in the scholarly publishing process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher.

AIS follows internationally recognized standards and guidance, including:

  • COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) – Core Practices and Guidelines
  • Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing
  • ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) Recommendations (where applicable)

Relevant resources:

1. Editorial Independence and Fair Decision-Making

  • Editorial decisions are based solely on scientific merit, originality, methodological rigor, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
  • AIS evaluates manuscripts fairly and without discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, nationality, political beliefs, or other personal characteristics.
  • Editors act independently and are not influenced by commercial, institutional, or personal interests.

2. Peer Review Process

  • AIS applies a double-blind peer review process.
  • Manuscripts are typically evaluated by at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise.
  • Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and evidence-based feedback within the specified timeframe.

3. Confidentiality

  • All submissions are treated as confidential documents.
  • Editors and reviewers must not share, discuss, or use the content of submitted manuscripts for personal advantage.
  • Information about a manuscript is disclosed only to authorized editorial staff, assigned reviewers, and the corresponding author.

4. Conflicts of Interest (COI)

  • Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial relationships that could be perceived as influencing the work (e.g., funding, employment, consultancies, patents, personal relationships).
  • Reviewers must declare potential conflicts of interest and decline the review if necessary.
  • Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict exists; another editor will be assigned.

5. Authorship and Contributorship

  • Authorship should reflect substantial scholarly contributions to the work (concept/design, data acquisition, analysis/interpretation, drafting/revising).
  • Gift, guest, or ghost authorship is not acceptable.
  • All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.
  • Contributions that do not qualify for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately.

6. Research Ethics: Human Participants, Animals, and Sensitive Data

  • Research involving human participants must comply with relevant ethical and legal requirements, including ethics committee approval (where applicable) and informed consent.
  • Research involving animals must follow applicable welfare regulations and ethical standards, and must obtain required approvals.
  • Authors must ensure the protection of privacy, confidentiality, and data security, especially when using sensitive or identifiable data.
  • When required, authors should explicitly state the approval authority, approval number/date, and consent procedures within the manuscript.

7. Data Integrity, Reproducibility, and Reporting Standards

  • Authors must present research findings accurately and must not fabricate, falsify, or selectively manipulate data.
  • Methods should be reported in sufficient detail to allow replication.
  • Where appropriate, authors should retain raw data and be prepared to provide it to the editorial office for verification.

8. Plagiarism, Similarity, and Duplicate Publication

  • All submissions must be original and must not be under consideration or published elsewhere.
  • Proper citation and quotation are required for all reused material (including text, figures, tables, and code).
  • AIS may use similarity-checking tools to screen submissions. Manuscripts with unacceptable similarity, plagiarism, or redundant publication will be rejected or handled according to COPE guidance.

9. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

  • If authors use AI-based tools (e.g., for language editing, code assistance, image generation), they must ensure the accuracy and integrity of the content.
  • AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Responsibility for the manuscript remains entirely with the human authors.
  • Any substantial use of AI tools should be transparently described in the manuscript (e.g., in the acknowledgements or methods section), where appropriate.

10. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

  • If significant errors are identified after publication, AIS may publish a correction (erratum/corrigendum).
  • In cases of proven misconduct or unreliable findings, AIS may issue a retraction or an expression of concern, in line with COPE guidance.
  • Authors are expected to cooperate with investigations and provide relevant information when requested.

11. Handling Allegations of Misconduct

  • Allegations of misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, fabricated data, unethical research, undisclosed conflicts) are taken seriously and investigated promptly.
  • AIS follows COPE flowcharts and best practices when responding to suspected misconduct.
  • Actions may include rejection, correction, retraction, notification of institutions, and restrictions on future submissions, depending on the severity of the case.

12. Open Access and Copyright

  • AIS provides open access to its content. Readers may access published articles freely on the journal website.
  • Copyright and licensing information is stated on the journal website and/or within published articles. Authors must ensure they have the rights to publish all included materials.

Contact

For questions regarding research integrity or publication ethics, please contact the Editorial Office:

  • Email: editorial@aistudies.org

Last updated: [30.10.2025]