Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Technologies

The Journal of Leadership in Sport and Management (JLSM) recognises that artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies are increasingly used in research, data analysis, and scholarly communication. Such tools may support legitimate research and writing activities, but their use must not compromise authorship responsibility, research integrity, confidentiality, transparency, or the reliability of the scholarly record.

AI and Authorship

Artificial intelligence systems, large language models, chatbots, and other automated tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to JLSM.

Authorship requires accountability for the work, approval of the submitted and published versions, management of conflicts of interest, and responsibility for responding to questions concerning accuracy and integrity. AI systems cannot fulfil these responsibilities.

Human authors remain fully responsible for all content submitted to and published by JLSM, regardless of whether AI-assisted technologies were used during its preparation.

Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI-assisted technologies for legitimate supporting purposes, provided that such use does not replace the authors’ intellectual responsibility for the work.

Authors must independently verify the accuracy, validity, appropriateness, and originality of AI-assisted content. Particular attention should be paid to factual claims, statistical information, references, quotations, and citations because generative AI systems may produce inaccurate or fabricated information.

AI-generated references or citations must not be included without verification against the original source.

Authors must ensure that the use of AI does not result in plagiarism, inappropriate text reuse, fabrication or falsification of information, undisclosed manipulation of data, or misrepresentation of the authors’ own scholarly contribution.

Disclosure of AI Use

Material use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the preparation of a manuscript should be disclosed transparently.

The disclosure should identify the tool and briefly describe how it was used when its use materially contributed to text generation, analysis, coding, image generation or modification, data processing, translation, or another substantive component of the work.

Routine tools used solely for spelling, grammar, reference formatting, or conventional word-processing assistance do not normally require disclosure.

Disclosure of AI use does not transfer responsibility from the authors to the technology provider.

AI in Research Methods and Data Analysis

When an AI system, machine-learning model, algorithm, or related technology forms part of the research methodology, its use should be described with sufficient detail to permit scientific evaluation.

Where relevant, authors should report the tool or model used, version or access date, relevant parameters or procedures, validation methods, human oversight, and limitations affecting interpretation or reproducibility.

Images, Figures and Research Data

AI-assisted generation or substantive modification of images, figures, datasets, or other research materials must not be used in a manner that misrepresents research evidence.

When AI-generated or AI-modified visual material is scientifically relevant to the manuscript, its origin and method of production should be disclosed.

AI tools must not be used to fabricate, manipulate, or selectively alter research data or evidence.

Confidentiality in Peer Review

Manuscripts submitted to JLSM are confidential documents.

Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, manuscript excerpts, figures, tables, supplementary files, unpublished data, or other confidential material to publicly accessible generative AI systems or external AI services when confidentiality, data protection, ownership, or subsequent use of the material cannot be assured.

Reviewers remain personally responsible for the content, accuracy, fairness, and scholarly judgement of their reviews.

AI-generated assessments must not replace independent expert evaluation of a manuscript.

Use of AI by Editors

Editors must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and peer-review materials.

Confidential submission content must not be uploaded to external generative AI systems where appropriate safeguards for confidentiality and data protection are not assured.

Editorial decisions must be made by appropriately authorised human editors. AI systems must not make autonomous decisions regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts.

Detection of AI-Generated Content

JLSM does not regard automated AI-detection tools as conclusive evidence that misconduct has occurred.

Where concerns arise regarding inappropriate or undisclosed use of AI, the journal will assess the available evidence and may request clarification, source materials, data, or other relevant information from the authors.

Editorial action will be based on the nature and significance of the issue rather than solely on the output of an automated detection system.

Responsibility and Research Integrity

The use of artificial intelligence does not reduce the responsibilities of authors, reviewers, or editors under the journal’s policies on authorship, confidentiality, research integrity, conflicts of interest, data transparency, and publication ethics.

Where inappropriate AI use results in inaccurate reporting, fabricated material, plagiarism, confidentiality breaches, or other publication-integrity concerns, JLSM may take appropriate editorial action in accordance with its Publication Ethics and Research Integrity and post-publication policies.