Generative AI Policy

EduMatrix: International Journal of Mathematics Education recognizes the increasing use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and AI-assisted technologies in academic research, writing, analysis, and scholarly communication. The journal acknowledges that appropriately used AI tools can support authors and researchers in improving efficiency, language quality, and certain technical aspects of scholarly work.

At the same time, the journal is committed to maintaining academic integrity, research transparency, originality, accountability, and responsible scholarly practice. The use of Generative AI must not compromise the accuracy, originality, ethical standards, or intellectual integrity of a manuscript.

1. Acceptable Uses of Generative AI

Authors may use Generative AI and AI-assisted tools for limited and appropriate purposes, including:

  • grammar, spelling, and language improvement;

  • translation or language refinement;

  • improving clarity, readability, and academic style;

  • formatting and structural assistance;

  • assistance with programming or coding, provided that the resulting code is verified by the authors;

  • organizing ideas, outlines, or preliminary concepts;

  • assisting with data-processing procedures, where appropriate and transparently reported; and

  • other administrative or technical tasks that do not replace the authors' intellectual and scholarly responsibility.

Authors remain fully responsible for verifying and validating any content, suggestions, code, references, or other outputs generated or assisted by AI tools.

2. Unacceptable Uses of Generative AI

Generative AI must not be used in ways that compromise research integrity or scholarly accountability. Prohibited uses include, but are not limited to:

  • fabricating or falsifying research data, findings, results, or experimental procedures;

  • generating or inventing references, citations, sources, quotations, or bibliographic information;

  • presenting AI-generated text, ideas, analyses, or conclusions as original scholarly contributions without appropriate disclosure;

  • manipulating, fabricating, or materially altering research images, figures, photographs, or other visual evidence in a misleading manner;

  • replacing the authors' scientific judgment, critical analysis, interpretation, or responsibility for the research;

  • generating misleading or unsupported scientific claims;

  • using AI to conceal plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct;

  • submitting AI-generated content that has not been adequately checked for accuracy and originality; and

  • using AI to generate, influence, or manipulate peer review reports or editorial decisions.

3. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of Generative AI when it has made a substantive contribution to the preparation, analysis, or presentation of the manuscript.

The disclosure should identify:

  • the name of the AI tool or system used;

  • the purpose for which it was used;

  • the relevant stage or section of the research or manuscript; and

  • where appropriate, the nature and extent of the AI-assisted contribution.

Routine use of AI-based tools for basic spelling, grammar, or formatting assistance generally does not require detailed disclosure unless such use materially affects the content of the manuscript.

Authors remain responsible for ensuring that any AI-assisted content is accurate, appropriately cited where necessary, and consistent with the journal's publication ethics requirements.

4. AI Tools and Authorship

Generative AI tools, including ChatGPT and similar systems, cannot be listed as authors, co-authors, or contributors of manuscripts submitted to EduMatrix: International Journal of Mathematics Education.

Authorship requires human accountability for the research, including responsibility for the integrity, accuracy, interpretation, and final approval of the manuscript.

5. Responsibility of Authors

The use of Generative AI does not transfer or reduce the authors' responsibility for their manuscript. Authors remain responsible for:

  • the accuracy and originality of the manuscript;

  • the validity of research methods and findings;

  • the accuracy of citations and references;

  • the proper attribution of ideas and sources;

  • compliance with research ethics;

  • protection of confidential and personal information; and

  • responding to any concerns regarding AI-assisted content.

Authors should carefully verify all AI-generated or AI-assisted content because Generative AI systems may produce inaccurate, incomplete, biased, or fabricated information.

6. Confidentiality and Sensitive Information

Authors, reviewers, and editors must exercise caution when using AI tools with unpublished or confidential information.

Authors and reviewers should not upload confidential manuscripts, unpublished research data, personal information, proprietary materials, or other sensitive content to publicly accessible or third-party AI systems when doing so could compromise confidentiality, privacy, intellectual property, or research integrity.

7. Generative AI in Peer Review

Reviewers must not use Generative AI tools to generate, substantially draft, or evaluate confidential peer review reports unless explicitly authorized by the journal and consistent with applicable confidentiality and data-protection requirements.

Reviewers remain personally responsible for the originality, accuracy, confidentiality, and scholarly judgment expressed in their review reports.

AI tools must not be used to make the final recommendation or editorial decision on behalf of a reviewer or editor.

8. Generative AI and Research Data

Generative AI must not be used to fabricate, invent, alter, or selectively manipulate research data or findings.

Where AI-assisted data analysis is used, authors must ensure that:

  • the methodology is scientifically appropriate;

  • the outputs are independently verified;

  • the limitations of the AI-assisted analysis are understood; and

  • the use of AI is appropriately disclosed when it materially contributes to the research.

9. Images and Other Visual Materials

AI-generated or AI-assisted images, diagrams, illustrations, or other visual materials must not be presented as authentic research evidence when they do not represent actual data or observations.

Authors must comply with applicable copyright, licensing, research ethics, and image-manipulation standards. Any substantive AI-generated visual material should be appropriately identified or disclosed where relevant.

10. Editorial Assessment

The Editorial Board reserves the right to request clarification regarding the use of Generative AI in a submitted manuscript. Where there are reasonable concerns regarding undisclosed AI use, fabricated information, plagiarism, inaccurate citations, data manipulation, or other forms of misconduct, the journal may conduct an appropriate investigation in accordance with its Publication Ethics and Plagiarism Policy.

Failure to disclose substantive AI use or misuse of AI technologies may result in editorial action, including request for revision, rejection, correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the nature and severity of the issue.

11. Guiding Principle

The fundamental principle of this policy is that Generative AI may assist scholarly work, but it cannot replace human authorship, scientific reasoning, critical judgment, or accountability.

All authors, reviewers, and editors of EduMatrix: International Journal of Mathematics Education are expected to use AI technologies responsibly, transparently, ethically, and in a manner consistent with established standards of academic integrity and scholarly publishing.