Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Policy

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Policy

The Journal of Catalan Studies recognises that generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and AI-assisted technologies are increasingly used in academic research, writing and publishing. The Journal supports the responsible use of these technologies while maintaining the principles of academic integrity, transparency, accountability and confidentiality.

Use of GenAI by authors

Authors may use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies as tools to support the preparation of a manuscript, for example to improve language, readability or organisation. Such technologies must not replace the author's own scholarly judgement, critical analysis or original contribution.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality and integrity of all content submitted to the Journal, including any content produced or modified with the assistance of generative AI. Authors must verify AI-generated information, references and citations and ensure that their use of AI does not result in plagiarism, copyright infringement, fabrication, misrepresentation or other breaches of research integrity.

Generative AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors, since authorship entails responsibilities and accountability that can only be assumed by human authors.

Disclosure of GenAI use

Authors must disclose any substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the preparation of their manuscript. The disclosure should identify the tool used and briefly explain how it was used.

A disclosure may take the following form:

Declaration of Generative AI Use: During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [name of tool/service] for [purpose]. The author(s) reviewed and verified the resulting content and take full responsibility for the final content of the article.

Routine use of software for spelling, grammar, reference management or similar basic editorial assistance does not normally require disclosure.

Where generative AI forms part of the research methodology—for example, in data collection, analysis, translation, corpus analysis or the generation or modification of research materials—its use should be described in sufficient detail in the relevant methodological section to permit readers to understand how the technology contributed to the research.

Images and other content

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI to create or substantially modify images, figures, tables, audio, video or other content submitted for publication. Authors are responsible for ensuring that such material complies with applicable copyright, licensing and research-integrity requirements.

Use of GenAI in peer review

Manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Catalan Studies are confidential documents. Reviewers must not upload manuscripts, substantial portions of manuscripts, unpublished research data or other confidential material received through the peer-review process to publicly accessible generative AI systems.

Generative AI must not replace the reviewer's own scholarly assessment and judgement. Reviewers remain fully responsible for the content and recommendations contained in their reports. Any substantive use of GenAI in preparing a review should be disclosed to the editors.

Use of GenAI by editors

Editors must preserve the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and the peer-review process. Confidential manuscript material must not be uploaded to publicly accessible generative AI systems.

Editorial decisions must ultimately be made by human editors. Generative AI may not replace the scholarly judgement required to assess a manuscript's originality, quality, relevance or suitability for publication.

Responsibility and policy review

Responsibility for the integrity of published work remains with its human authors, and responsibility for editorial and peer-review decisions remains with the Journal's editors and reviewers.

Given the rapid development of generative AI technologies and standards in scholarly publishing, the Journal of Catalan Studies will review and update this policy as appropriate.