Generative AI Policy

Statement on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence

In compliance with Scopus requirements and to maintain transparency and integrity in academic publishing, Scientometrica has established the following policy regarding the use of generative AI (GenAI) and AI-assisted technologies in manuscript preparation, review, and publication.

Core Principle
Human authors are fully responsible and accountable for all content submitted to Scientometrica. Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors, as they cannot take responsibility for the work, hold copyright, or consent to publication. Authors must ensure that their work is original and that any AI-assisted portions are properly reviewed and approved by all named authors.

Permitted Uses
Authors may use GenAI tools solely for the following purposes:
- Improving language and readability (grammar checking, spelling correction, style suggestions)
- Editing assistance and proofreading
- Formatting references (with human verification)
Any AI-generated or AI-suggested content must be carefully reviewed and edited by the human author(s), who take full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the final work.

Prohibited Uses
The following uses are strictly prohibited:
- Generating or manipulating research data, results, or images
- Creating or suggesting citations and references without verification
- Writing core scientific arguments, discussions, or conclusions without substantive human intellectual input
- Listing AI as an author or co-author
- Using AI to generate the entire manuscript without meaningful human contribution
- Using AI to replace or assist in peer review or editorial decisions

Disclosure Requirement
Any use of GenAI in the preparation of the manuscript must be explicitly disclosed in a separate section titled "Declaration of AI Use" placed before the References list. If no AI tools were used, this section may be omitted.

Required Disclosure Format:
"During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [NAME OF TOOL] to [REASON FOR USE, e.g., improve language and readability, check grammar, format references]. After using this tool, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the publication."

Policy for Reviewers and Editors
Manuscripts submitted to Scientometrica are confidential documents. Reviewers and editors must not upload any manuscript or part thereof into generative AI tools or public AI platforms (such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.). Doing so violates confidentiality, intellectual property rights, and the integrity of the peer review process. All reviews and editorial decisions must be based on human intellectual analysis and cannot be generated or assisted by AI.

Policy for Editorial Staff
Editorial staff must not use AI tools to make decisions about manuscript suitability, peer review assignment, or acceptance. All editorial judgments must be made by human editors based on their expertise and the feedback provided by reviewers.

Consequences of Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with this policy may result in:
- Rejection of the manuscript without review
- Retraction of published articles
- Notification to the author's institution or funding body
- Prohibition from submitting to the journal for a specified period

Verification
The editorial office may inquire about AI use if concerns arise during review (e.g., unnatural phrasing, implausible or fabricated references, inconsistencies in writing style). Authors may be asked to provide documentation of their use of AI tools and to explain their contribution to the work.

Questions and Guidance
If you are uncertain whether a particular use of AI is appropriate, please contact the editorial office before submission. We are happy to provide guidance and clarification.