USE OF AI

Pakistan Journal of Management Research (PJMR) recognizes the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic research, scholarly writing, data analysis, and scientific publishing. The journal supports the responsible and transparent use of AI-assisted technologies while maintaining high standards of research integrity, originality, accountability, and publication ethics.

This policy is informed by the ethical principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and international best practices in scholarly publishing.

1. Responsible Use of AI Tools

PJMR permits the responsible use of AI-assisted technologies for legitimate academic and research purposes, provided that their use does not compromise the originality, accuracy, reliability, or integrity of scholarly work.

AI tools may be used for:

  • Grammar, spelling, and language improvement.

  • Improving readability and clarity of academic manuscripts.

  • Assisting with literature organization and research planning.

  • Supporting data processing and analysis with appropriate validation.

  • Assisting with formatting and manuscript preparation.

All AI-assisted outputs must be carefully reviewed and verified by the authors before submission.

2. AI Authorship Restrictions

Artificial Intelligence tools, including ChatGPT and other generative AI systems, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to PJMR.

Authorship is restricted to human contributors who can take responsibility for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and ethical compliance of the submitted research.

Authors remain fully accountable for all manuscript content, including materials generated or modified using AI technologies.

3. Disclosure of AI Usage

Authors must transparently disclose any substantive use of AI-assisted technologies during manuscript preparation, research design, data analysis, or content generation.

The disclosure should include:

  • The name of the AI tool or software used.

  • The purpose of using the technology.

  • The sections or research activities supported by AI.

  • The extent of AI involvement in manuscript preparation or analysis.

Authors should provide this information in an appropriate manuscript section, such as the Acknowledgments, Methodology, or a dedicated AI Use Declaration.

4. Prohibited Uses of Artificial Intelligence

PJMR strictly prohibits the unethical use of AI technologies, including:

  • Generating fabricated or falsified research data.

  • Creating fictitious references, citations, or research findings.

  • Producing misleading or manipulated academic evidence.

  • Using AI-generated text without necessary verification or disclosure.

  • Misrepresenting AI-generated research as independently conducted human research.

  • Using AI to conceal plagiarism or other research misconduct.

  • Generating deceptive images, tables, or statistical results.

Any suspected violation may result in editorial investigation, manuscript rejection, correction, or retraction, depending on the circumstances.

5. AI in Research Data Analysis

Researchers using AI-based tools for statistical analysis, predictive modeling, machine learning, qualitative coding, or other analytical procedures must ensure methodological transparency and reproducibility.

Authors should provide sufficient information regarding the tools, analytical methods, validation procedures, and relevant limitations to allow appropriate scholarly evaluation.

AI-assisted findings must be critically assessed and should not be presented as independently verified evidence without appropriate validation.

6. AI-Generated Images, Figures, and Tables

AI-generated or AI-assisted visual materials must be scientifically accurate, relevant, appropriately disclosed, and consistent with applicable copyright and research ethics requirements.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that AI-generated images, diagrams, figures, and tables do not misrepresent research findings or contain fabricated information.

7. Use of AI by Peer Reviewers

Peer reviewers must maintain strict confidentiality regarding manuscripts assigned for evaluation.

Reviewers must not upload unpublished manuscripts, confidential research information, or editorial correspondence into external AI systems unless expressly authorized by the journal and appropriate confidentiality safeguards are established.

AI tools must not replace independent scholarly judgment. Any authorized substantive AI assistance during peer review must be disclosed to the editorial office.

8. Use of AI by Editors

Editors may use appropriate AI-assisted technologies for administrative or editorial support, provided that manuscript confidentiality, data protection, fairness, and editorial independence are maintained.

Editorial decisions regarding manuscript acceptance, revision, or rejection must remain under the responsibility of qualified human editors.

AI-generated assessments must not replace professional editorial evaluation or independent academic judgment.

9. Confidentiality and Data Protection

Authors, reviewers, and editors must protect confidential research information, personal data, unpublished manuscripts, and sensitive institutional records when using AI technologies.

Uploading confidential or identifiable information to external AI platforms without appropriate authorization and safeguards is prohibited.

10. Ethical Violations and Corrective Actions

PJMR reserves the right to investigate suspected misuse of AI-assisted technologies in submitted or published manuscripts.

Depending on the nature and severity of the violation, corrective actions may include:

  • Requests for clarification or additional disclosures.

  • Manuscript revision or rejection.

  • Publication of corrections or expressions of concern.

  • Retraction of published articles.

  • Notification of relevant institutions where justified.

All investigations should follow fair, transparent, and documented editorial procedures.

11. Sample AI Use Declaration

Authors who have used AI-assisted technologies may include the following statement in their manuscripts:

Declaration of AI-Assisted Technology Use:

"The authors acknowledge the use of [AI Tool Name] for [specific purpose]. All AI-assisted content was carefully reviewed, verified, and edited by the authors. The authors take full responsibility for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and ethical compliance of the submitted manuscript."

Authors who have not used AI-assisted technologies may state:

"The authors declare that no generative AI-assisted technologies were used in the preparation of this manuscript."

12. Policy Review and Updates

PJMR recognizes that artificial intelligence technologies and related ethical standards continue to evolve.

The journal will periodically review and update this policy to reflect developments in scholarly publishing, research integrity, technological innovation, and internationally recognized publication ethics guidelines.

Conclusion

Pakistan Journal of Management Research (PJMR) supports the ethical, responsible, and transparent integration of Artificial Intelligence into academic research and scholarly publishing.

The journal emphasizes that AI technologies should assist human researchers rather than replace scholarly judgment, intellectual responsibility, research originality, or academic accountability.

Journal Website: https://pjmr.com.pk/index.php/PJMR/index

Ethical Guidance: Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) — https://publicationethics.org/