AI Rules and Principles

 

Policy on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for Authors,

Reviewers, and Editors

 

Journal of Research in Contemporary World Literature (RCWL) considers the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the production, writing, content rewriting, development of analysis, generation of data/results, image generation, or any type of new academic text in the process of preparing and submitting articles as unauthorized and contrary to the principles of research ethics and academic publication. Accordingly, authors, editors, and reviewers are advised to refrain from using such tools at any level that replaces the human intellectual and research contribution in content production.

Exception: Limited use of generative AI tools is permitted solely for improving the language and writing of the submitted text (hereinafter referred to as the “article”); provided that this use is limited to language corrections (such as grammar, spelling, punctuation, improving flow, and standardizing writing style) and does not lead to the generation of new text, addition of content, alteration of arguments, generation of abstracts/conclusions, content rewriting, or expansion of sections of the article.

1) General Principles

• The scientific, ethical, and legal responsibility for the article (including its originality, validity, accuracy, citations, data, analyses, and conclusions) rests entirely with the author(s).
• Any article submitted for review and publication to RCWL must be the result of the original research effort and writing style of the author(s); in a way that the intellectual and analytical contribution of the author(s) is identifiable and defensible.
• Generative AI tools cannot be introduced as an author, co-author, or academic contributor and do not bear research responsibility.

2) Permitted Use for Authors (Language Improvement Only)

If authors use a generative AI tool to improve language and writing, they must:

• Limit the scope of use to language corrections (without generating content or expanding/changing analysis).
• Carefully review the tool’s output and personally control the scientific accuracy, conceptual coherence, stylistic integrity, and correctness of references and quotations.
• Disclose the use completely and transparently (Section 3).

3) Disclosure Requirement and Placement within the Article

If a generative AI tool has been used for language improvement, authors are required to include an independent section titled “Use of Generative AI” at the end of the article, before the “References” section, and explicitly mention the “Tool/Service Name” and “Version/Model (if available)” and the “Purpose of Use”.

Authors are required to use the following format:

Use of Generative AI:

Statement: In preparing this article, the author(s) used [Name of tool/service, version/model] for the purpose of [specific purpose, e.g., improving writing and correcting grammar/spelling/punctuation]. The author(s) assume full responsibility for the content of the article and its scientific accuracy.

If there is nothing to disclose (i.e., no generative AI tools were used), authors can clearly write in this section:

Use of Generative AI: None.

4) Prohibited Actions Leading to Article Rejection or Disciplinary Action

The following are prohibited in RCWL and may lead to the rejection of the article at any stage, suspension of the review process, or (if discovered after acceptance/publication) corrective actions including issuing a correction or retraction:

• Generating content/data and replacing the author(s)’ contribution in producing scientific content or research data, or generating anything not yet conceived/created by the author.
• Generating any type of academic text or content, including (but not limited to) abstracts, introductions, literature reviews, theoretical frameworks, methods, analyses, discussions, conclusions, suggestions, titles, keywords, or any shorter paragraphs/sections of the article.
• Content rewriting or developing arguments with the help of AI (even if the author subsequently edits it), in a way that the tool’s output plays an effective role in shaping the analysis or generating the text.
• Generating, manipulating, distorting, or editing images/charts/figures with AI tools, or generating images to present as research data/evidence.
• Generating or recreating quotations, references, sources, identifiers (such as DOI), or any type of bibliographic data fictitiously or without accurate verification.
• Machine/generative translation as text generation (especially for content sections of the article) that results in creating new text or changing the analytical meaning.

5) Responsibilities and Limitations for Reviewers and Editors

Due to the risk of compromising the confidentiality of the review process and the potential disclosure of proprietary data, personally identifiable information, and unpublished content:

• The use of any type of generative AI tool or platform by reviewers and editors to process, summarize, rewrite, analyze, or evaluate submitted manuscripts is prohibited.
• Reviewers and editors must refrain from submitting all or part of files, texts, images, tables, data, or information related to unpublished manuscripts to any generative AI tool/platform.
• Any note-taking or writing of review reports must be done by the reviewer themselves, and the confidentiality of the authors’ information and manuscripts must be fully maintained.

6) Policy Enforcement and Verification

RCWL reserves the right, upon observing signs of unauthorized use of generative AI:

• To request supplementary explanations and necessary documentation from the author(s) regarding the process of preparing the text.
• To suspend the review process or reject the article.
• If a violation is discovered after acceptance/publication, to apply appropriate corrective action in accordance with publication ethics regulations.

 

This policy is formulated with the aim of safeguarding research originality, scientific accountability, and maintaining the confidentiality of the review process, and compliance with it is mandatory for all stakeholders (authors, reviewers, and editors).

 

* All writers are required to submit two reports for English articles:

1. Turnitin plagiarism report
2. Turnitin AI usage report