GAI Guideline

Approved by the editorial committee on 26 January 2025

In the ever-changing field of academic publishing, scholars are increasingly using generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools during research and writing. Although GAI tools have the potential to revolutionize academic research and article creation, they also raise ethical concerns. This guideline aims to balance technological innovation with academic integrity. This guideline regulates transparency and accountability requirements for authors and defines the confidentiality and information security responsibilities of reviewers and editors. To provide authors, reviewers, editors, and readers with greater transparency and guidance, Research of Educational Communications and Technology (hereafter referred to as this journal) has formulated the following policies regarding the use of GAI tools, including large language models, chatbots, and image creation tools, in academic articles:

1. The author is the primary individual responsible for academic research and article writing. GAI tools should not be listed as authors because they cannot assume the responsibilities that authors must undertake regarding copyright restrictions governing the literature review, data collection, data analysis, and figure/table generation or perform academic tasks such as disclosing conflicts of interest and responding to reviewer comments.
2. In the research methods section or appropriate alternative text of the submitted article, authors must properly document and clearly disclose all GAI tools or large language models used during article preparation, including the full name of the tool (with version number), how it was used, and the reason for use.
3. Reviewers and editors are the main parties responsible for article review. GAI tools cannot replace reviewers in generating review comments, nor can they replace editors in making editorial decisions regarding article acceptance. In accordance with the principles of anonymous review, data security and confidentiality, and intellectual property protection, reviewers and editors must not upload articles under review or review comments to GAI tools.
4. Authors, reviewers, and editors are strictly prohibited from using GAI tools to fabricate information, generate fictitious citations, or engage in other acts that violate academic ethics. However, the use of GAI tools to assist with text editing and language proofreading, improve readability, and ensure correct grammar, spelling, formatting, and punctuation shall be acknowledged by the corresponding author when submitting the manuscript and declared in the acknowledgments section of the submitted manuscript.
5. Any individual reporting improper use of GAI tools in a work published by this journal must provide specific supporting evidence for the editorial board to adjudicate.
6. This guideline will take effect immediately upon its discussion and approval by the editorial committee.