Privacy Statement

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.

AI Usage Policy for JIBA

Policies for Authors

Within the Journal of Inquiry Based Activities (JIBA), the application of Artificial Intelligence is strictly limited to enhancing the linguistic quality and readability of the manuscript. Authors maintain full responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of their work; they are required to rigorously vet all AI-generated suggestions to ensure the content remains technically sound. Consequently, AI tools do not meet the criteria for authorship and must never be listed as an author or co-author. Any utilization of these tools during the writing process must be explicitly declared within a dedicated disclosure statement in the final published manuscript.

The integrity of visual data is paramount. The use of AI to create, alter, or modify scientific figures—including the addition or removal of specific features—is strictly prohibited. Exceptions are only made when AI is a core component of the research methodology itself, such as in specialized biomedical imaging analysis; in these instances, the process must be described with enough detail to ensure full reproducibility. While AI-generated graphical abstracts are not permitted, AI-produced cover art may be considered for publication, provided the authors obtain prior editorial approval and confirm all necessary copyright clearances.

 

Policies for Reviewers

To safeguard the intellectual property of authors and maintain strict data privacy, reviewers are prohibited from uploading manuscripts or peer-review correspondence into any AI platform. Peer review is fundamentally a human intellectual exercise requiring critical thinking and nuanced judgment; therefore, AI tools cannot be employed to evaluate submissions or assist in making editorial recommendations. This restriction extends to the drafting of the review reports themselves—reviewers must compose their feedback personally to ensure the critique is authentic and grounded in expert knowledge. Reviewers should also verify that authors have included the required AI disclosure section, which is typically located immediately preceding the reference list.

 

Policies for Editors

Editors are entrusted with the confidentiality of the peer-review process and must ensure that manuscripts, decision letters, and internal communications are never processed through AI systems. All editorial evaluations and final decisions regarding a manuscript’s suitability for publication must be performed by the editor to ensure transparency and accountability. While editors will oversee the inclusion of author disclosures regarding AI use, they are also responsible for monitoring potential policy violations. If an editor suspects an author or reviewer has misused AI tools in a manner that contradicts these guidelines, they are obligated to notify the publisher for further investigation.