1. Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies are used in scientific publishing processes in an ethical, transparent, responsible, and auditable manner, and to safeguard research integrity, scientific reliability, and academic honesty.
This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to the journal and to authors, editors, and reviewers involved in the preparation, evaluation, peer-review, and publication stages of these manuscripts.
The policy has been prepared in alignment with DergiPark principles, COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines, and national and international ethical regulations.

2. Fundamental Principles
The following principles govern the use of generative artificial intelligence:
• Human responsibility and accountability: GenAI is a tool; the ethical and scientific responsibility for all generated content rests with humans.
• Transparency: The use of GenAI must be clearly declared.
• Accuracy and verifiability: All information, data, and references generated by GenAI must be verified.
• Research integrity: GenAI must not be used in ways that lead to ethical violations such as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism.
• Human oversight: Scientific decisions, evaluations, and interpretations rely on human judgment.

3. Rules for Authors
Generative artificial intelligence tools (large language models, chatbots, visual or graphic generation tools, etc.) cannot be recognized as authors of a manuscript and cannot be included in the list of authors.
Authorship refers exclusively to human contribution, academic responsibility, and accountability.

3.1. Permitted Uses
Authors may use generative artificial intelligence tools for the following supportive purposes:
• Grammar and spelling checks,
• Text simplification and stylistic improvement,
• Summarization and translation,
• Brainstorming and idea development (provided that the final text belongs to the authors),
• Figure, graph, or visual draft suggestions (on the condition that this is declared in the methods section).

3.2. Disclosure Requirement
• If generative artificial intelligence is used during manuscript preparation, this must be clearly stated within the manuscript or in the specific disclosure section designated by the journal.
• The disclosure must specify:
• the name of the artificial intelligence tool used (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Midjourney, DeepSeek, etc.),
• the purpose of use (text generation, literature search, data analysis, visual generation, etc.),
• the scope and nature of its use.

3.3. Author Responsibility
Authors:
• are fully responsible for the scientific accuracy, originality, and ethical compliance of all content (text, data, code, visuals, etc.) generated or supported by generative artificial intelligence tools;
• are responsible for verifying information produced by GenAI and providing appropriate citations;
• must check for potential errors, omissions, biases, or fabricated information that may be produced by artificial intelligence tools.
The use of GenAI does not reduce or transfer the author’s responsibility.

4. Principles for Editors
• Editors check the presence and appropriateness of disclosures regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence.
• During the editorial evaluation process, attention is paid to:
• bibliographic consistency,
• the authenticity of sources,
• the principle of transparency.
• Editors may request additional explanations or documentation from authors when deemed necessary.
• If ethical risks related to GenAI use are identified, actions are taken in accordance with COPE principles.

5. Rules for Reviewers
• The peer-review process is based on scientific evaluation grounded in human expertise.
• Reviewers’ use of generative artificial intelligence to:
• write review reports,
• analyze manuscript content
is not recommended or is restricted.
• Reviewers may inform editors about issues of transparency and consistency regarding the use of generative artificial intelligence in manuscripts.

6. Prohibited Uses
The following practices are strictly prohibited:
• Generating fabricated data, information, or sources using GenAI,
• Citing publications that do not actually exist,
• Transforming others’ works via GenAI and using them without proper attribution,
• Presenting GenAI outputs as the author’s original contribution,
• Using GenAI to conceal ethical violations.
These actions are considered violations of scientific publication ethics.

7. Detection, Investigation, and Sanctions
The journal may, when deemed necessary, examine manuscripts using:
• plagiarism detection tools,
• generative artificial intelligence detection tools.
In cases of suspected GenAI-related ethical violations:
• the author is asked to provide a defense,
• an editorial investigation is initiated,
• decisions are made in line with COPE guidelines.
Depending on the nature of the violation:
• the manuscript may be rejected,
• a published article may be retracted,
• relevant institutions may be notified.