Preprint Policy

Preprint Policy

The Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Human Sciences (YZIB) supports the responsible dissemination of scientific research through preprints and recognizes their role in facilitating early scholarly communication, transparency, and the rapid exchange of research findings.

A manuscript previously posted on a recognized preprint server is not considered prior publication and may be submitted to YZIB, provided that the manuscript has not been formally published in another peer-reviewed journal and is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.

1. Definition of a Preprint

For the purposes of this policy, a preprint is a version of a scholarly manuscript made publicly available before formal peer review and publication in an academic journal.

Preprints may be hosted on:

  • recognized disciplinary preprint servers;

  • institutional repositories;

  • general-purpose scholarly repositories; or

  • other established non-commercial academic platforms.

Posting a manuscript on a personal website or institutional repository may also be considered preprint dissemination when the material has not undergone formal journal publication.

2. Submission of Previously Posted Preprints

Authors may submit manuscripts to YZIB that have previously been posted as preprints.

The existence of a preprint will not, by itself:

  • disqualify a manuscript from consideration;

  • constitute duplicate publication; or

  • negatively affect the editorial evaluation of the submission.

However, the manuscript must meet all other requirements of the journal and must not have been formally published elsewhere.

3. Disclosure of Preprints

Authors must disclose the existence of a preprint at the time of submission.

Where applicable, authors should provide:

  • the title of the preprint;

  • the name of the preprint server or repository;

  • the DOI or other persistent identifier;

  • the URL or permanent link; and

  • the version or date of posting.

This information should be provided in the submission system or cover letter where appropriate.

Failure to disclose an existing preprint may delay editorial processing.

4. Preprints and Double-Blind Peer Review

YZIB applies a double-blind peer-review process.

Authors should be aware that posting a manuscript as a preprint may make the authors' identities publicly discoverable and may therefore limit the journal's ability to guarantee complete anonymity during peer review.

The existence of a preprint does not normally prevent the manuscript from being reviewed by YZIB.

Authors should nevertheless avoid unnecessary public discussion of an active journal submission in ways that could intentionally influence or compromise the independence of the peer-review process.

5. Updating a Preprint During Peer Review

Authors may update their preprint while the manuscript is under consideration by YZIB, provided that such updates do not misrepresent the manuscript's editorial status.

Authors must not state or imply that a manuscript:

  • has been accepted;

  • will be accepted;

  • has been endorsed by YZIB; or

  • has successfully completed peer review

unless this is factually correct.

Where a revised preprint is posted, authors are encouraged to maintain clear version information.

6. Preprints After Acceptance

After a manuscript has been accepted for publication, authors may update the preprint record to indicate that the work has been accepted by YZIB, provided that the statement accurately reflects the manuscript's status.

Authors should not replace a preprint with the journal's typeset, formatted, or final published PDF unless permitted under the journal's copyright and licensing policies.

7. Preprints After Publication

After publication in YZIB, authors are encouraged to update the preprint record with:

  • the full citation of the published article;

  • the DOI of the Version of Record; and

  • a link to the article on the YZIB website.

The formally published article in YZIB constitutes the Version of Record.

Where technically possible, the preprint record should clearly direct readers to the final published version.

8. Citation of Preprints

Preprints may be cited when they are relevant to the scholarly discussion and no peer-reviewed version is available.

Preprint citations should be clearly identified as preprints and should include, where available:

  • author(s);

  • year;

  • title;

  • preprint server or repository;

  • version information; and

  • DOI or persistent identifier.

Authors should verify whether a peer-reviewed version of a cited preprint has subsequently been published. Where a peer-reviewed version is available, the published version should normally be cited instead.

9. Responsibility for Preprint Content

Authors remain fully responsible for the content of preprints associated with manuscripts submitted to YZIB.

Posting a preprint does not exempt authors from responsibilities concerning:

  • research ethics;

  • informed consent;

  • confidentiality;

  • protection of personal data;

  • copyright;

  • intellectual property;

  • conflicts of interest;

  • research integrity; and

  • accuracy of scientific claims.

10. Media and Public Communication

Authors should clearly distinguish between:

  • preliminary findings presented in a preprint; and

  • findings that have undergone formal peer review and publication.

Preprints should not be presented to the public, media, institutions, or other stakeholders as though they have received formal peer-review approval.

11. Preprints and Research Integrity

If serious concerns arise regarding a preprint associated with a manuscript submitted to YZIB, including suspected:

  • plagiarism;

  • fabrication or falsification;

  • unethical research;

  • copyright infringement;

  • authorship manipulation; or

  • other research-integrity issues,

YZIB may consider those concerns as part of its editorial evaluation.

The journal may request clarification, supporting documentation, or corrective action from the authors where necessary.

12. Withdrawal or Retraction of a Preprint

If a preprint is withdrawn or marked as retracted by the hosting repository, authors must inform YZIB when the related manuscript is under consideration or has been published by the journal.

The reasons for the withdrawal or retraction may be evaluated by the editorial office where relevant to the integrity of the submitted or published work.

13. Preprints and Copyright

Authors are responsible for ensuring that posting or updating a preprint complies with:

  • YZIB's copyright and licensing policies;

  • the terms of the preprint server or repository;

  • third-party copyright;

  • funding requirements; and

  • applicable institutional or legal obligations.

14. Policy Updates

YZIB reserves the right to review and update this policy in response to developments in open science, scholarly communication, copyright, research integrity, and publication ethics.