Generative AI Policy

MUKADIMAH permits responsible use of generative AI while maintaining human accountability, research integrity, and confidentiality. This policy applies to authors, reviewers, and editors.

1. Use by Authors

Authors may use AI to support literature exploration, idea development, organization, and language improvement. It must not replace their intellectual contribution or critical judgment.

Authors must verify generated claims and references, check for bias, and protect confidential information and intellectual property. AI tools cannot qualify as authors.

Substantive AI assistance must be disclosed at submission. Basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation checks, ordinary reference-management functions, and disability-related tools used solely for accessibility do not require disclosure.

Use within research methods must be explained in the Method section, including the tool, version where available, purpose, procedures, and verification undertaken.

2. Historical and Social Research Materials

For MUKADIMAH submissions, AI-generated narratives, quotations, interview responses, archival references, or reconstructed documents must never be presented as authentic evidence.

Authors using AI for transcription, translation, or source interpretation must compare outputs with the original materials. Uncertain readings and missing information must remain identifiable.

Interview recordings, personal information, and restricted archival materials must not be processed through external services without appropriate authorization and safeguards.

3. Figures and Images

AI assistance may be used for explanatory diagrams, timelines, and conceptual illustrations. Authors must check accuracy and disclose the tool, version, and purpose in the caption and AI declaration.

Data visualizations must faithfully represent actual research data through reproducible procedures. AI must not fabricate results or generate purported primary evidence.

General-purpose generative image tools must not be used to create graphical abstracts. AI-generated cover artwork requires prior approval from the editor and publisher.

For historical materials, generated reconstructions must be clearly labeled as illustrations. They must not be presented as original photographs, maps, manuscripts, or other historical sources.

4. Disclosure in MUKADIMAH

Place the declaration under Acknowledgments and Declarations, before the references, and provide matching information in the submission form. Update it if AI use changes during revision.

Authors may use the following template:

Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies: [Tool and version] assisted with [specific tasks or sections]. The authors checked the resulting material against [sources or verification procedures], revised it where necessary, and accept responsibility for the submitted work.

If no declarable use occurred:

No generative AI use requiring disclosure under this policy occurred in preparing this manuscript.

The journal’s requirement to record this negative declaration supports its submission checklist.

5. Use by Reviewers

Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts or extracts into AI tools.

Limited assistance with report language, organization, or general background searches is permitted only through private tools and without exposing confidential content. AI must not perform the reviewer’s independent scholarly assessment.

Reviewers must verify privacy terms: inputs must not be reused, shared, used for training, or retained beyond service requirements. Paid access alone does not establish privacy.

Reviewers must identify the tool and purpose in their report when disclosure is required; basic spelling and grammar checks are exempt. They remain accountable for every assessment and recommendation.

6. Use by Editors

Editors retain responsibility for assessment and publication decisions. Private AI tools may assist with non-confidential administrative wording or general literature searches, but submitted manuscripts must not be uploaded to external AI tools.

MUKADIMAH does not treat access to a commercial AI service as authorization to process confidential submissions. Any future journal-integrated AI service must undergo separate approval and be transparently communicated before implementation.

7. Compliance and Review

The journal may request clarification or supporting documentation about AI use. Concerns will be assessed under its Publication Ethics, Allegations of Misconduct, and Corrections policies.

Responses will depend on the evidence and its consequences, ranging from clarification or revision to rejection or post-publication action. Authors will have an opportunity to respond.

This policy will be reviewed periodically as technologies and publishing practices develop.

 

Source: Adapted from Elsevier’s Generative AI policies for journals, with journal-specific provisions for MUKADIMAH.