AI Policy

These policies have been developed in response to the increasing use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in scholarly work and have been refined to reflect evolving good practice. They are intended to provide greater transparency and guidance to authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and contributors.

ELEMENTAR: Jurnal Pendidikan Dasar will continue to monitor developments in this area and may revise this policy as necessary. This policy follows and substantively refers to standard international publishing ethics frameworks regarding generative AI policies.

2.1 The Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Manuscript Preparation

ELEMENTAR recognizes the potential of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI Tools”), when used responsibly, to help researchers work more efficiently, gain insights more quickly, and improve aspects of manuscript preparation. These tools may support activities such as synthesizing literature, identifying research gaps, generating ideas, organizing content, and improving language and readability.

Authors preparing a manuscript for ELEMENTAR may use AI Tools for such support. However, these tools must never be used as a substitute for human critical thinking, scholarly expertise, and evaluative judgment. AI Tools must always be used with human oversight and control. Authors remain fully responsible and accountable for the content of their work.

2.2 Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for:

• carefully reviewing and verifying the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and impartiality of all AI-generated output, including checking sources because AI-generated references may be incorrect or fabricated;
• editing and adapting all AI-assisted material thoroughly so that the manuscript reflects the authors’ authentic and original scholarly contribution, including their own analysis, interpretation, insights, and ideas;
• ensuring that the use of AI Tools is made clear and transparent to readers through an appropriate disclosure statement at submission; and
• ensuring that the manuscript is prepared in a way that protects data privacy, intellectual property, confidentiality, and other rights by reviewing the terms and conditions of any AI Tool used.

2.3 Responsible Use of AI Tools

Authors must review the terms and conditions of any AI Tool they use to ensure that the privacy and confidentiality of their data and inputs, including unpublished manuscripts, are protected. Particular care must be taken when personally identifiable data are involved. Authors must also check for factual errors, hallucinated references, and possible bias.

Images that duplicate or refer to copyrighted images, real people, identifiable products or brands, or an individual’s voice must not be generated. Authors must also ensure that the AI Tool does not obtain rights over input materials beyond what is strictly necessary to provide the service.

2.4 Disclosure

Authors must disclose the use of AI Tools for manuscript preparation in a separate AI Declaration statement in the manuscript at the time of submission. The declaration should identify the name of the AI Tool used, the purpose of the use, and the extent of the authors’ oversight.

2.5 Authorship

AI Tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors, and they must not be cited as authors. Authorship entails responsibilities and tasks that can only be attributed to human beings, including responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work.

2.6 The Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Tools in Figures, Images, and Artwork

ELEMENTAR does not permit the use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools to create or alter images in submitted manuscripts. The only exception is when the use of AI or AI-assisted imaging tools forms part of the research design or methods themselves (e.g., AI-assisted imaging in primary education data analysis), which must be fully described in the Methods section.

3.1 The Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Peer Review Process

When a reviewer is invited to assess a manuscript, it must be treated as a confidential document. Reviewers must not upload a submitted manuscript, any part of it, or the peer review report into a generative AI tool. Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies must not be used by reviewers to assist in the scientific review of a manuscript, as the critical thinking required for peer review cannot be delegated to AI.

4.1 The Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Editorial Process

Editors must treat submitted manuscripts and related correspondence as confidential documents and must not upload them into generative AI tools. Generative AI must not be used by editors to evaluate manuscripts or make editorial decisions; human judgment remains central and mandatory throughout the editorial process.

5.1 Violations and Consequences

Any misuse of AI or violation of this policy may be treated as unethical conduct and handled under the journal's publication ethics procedures. Actions may include manuscript rejection, post-publication correction or retraction, and temporary or permanent restrictions on future submissions.