Plagiarism Policy

Introduction

This journal enforces a strict policy against plagiarism to ensure the originality and integrity of the scholarly work it publishes. We are committed to publishing original research and adhering to the highest standards of publication ethics. This policy outlines the definition of plagiarism, the procedures for its detection, and the actions taken when it is identified. All authors submitting manuscripts to this journal must declare that their work is original and has not been plagiarized.

Description

Plagiarism involves presenting the work, ideas, words, or data of others as if they were one's own without appropriate attribution or permission. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Verbatim Copying: Directly copying text, phrases, or significant sections of another's work without using quotation marks and proper citation is considered plagiarism.

  • Inadequate Paraphrasing: One must avoid paraphrasing the work of others too closely without providing adequate attribution.

  • Use of Non-Textual Material: Using images, tables, data, or research results from other sources without proper acknowledgment or permission is also considered plagiarism.

  • Idea Plagiarism: Presenting ideas, theories, or interpretations from others as one's own original thought is unacceptable.

  • Self-Plagiarism: Also known as redundant or overlapping publication, it involves reusing substantial portions of one's own previously published work without citation or proper justification.

Plagiarism is a serious violation of academic and publication ethics and is unacceptable in any form. This journal expects all authors to meticulously acknowledge the work and ideas of others.

Policy

  • Screening: All manuscripts submitted to this journal undergo rigorous plagiarism screening before peer review.

  • Tool: This journal uses Turnitin, an industry-standard plagiarism detection software, to screen submitted manuscripts for text similarity.

  • Similarity Index: Turnitin reports that manuscripts with an overall similarity index greater than 20% will undergo further scrutiny. However, this journal recognizes that the similarity index requires careful interpretation.

  • Exclusions from Similarity Check: The plagiarism detection software will be configured to exclude the reference list/bibliography and properly formatted direct quotations (enclosed in quotation marks and properly cited) from the similarity calculation.

  • Consequences of Plagiarism:

    • Pre-Publication: If plagiarism is detected in a submitted manuscript prior to publication, the manuscript will be rejected. We will notify the corresponding author, and if the plagiarism is extensive or severe, we may also notify the author's institution.

    • Post-Publication: If plagiarism is found in a published article, the journal will thoroughly investigate it. If plagiarism is confirmed, the article will be retracted. The journal will publish a notice of retraction and notify the author's institution.

    • The journal reserves the right to take further action as deemed appropriate, depending on the severity of the plagiarism.

Technical Measures to Achieve and Implement the Policy

  • Screening Submissions: Upon receipt of a new manuscript submission, the editorial office will use Turnitin to generate a similarity report.

  • Report Evaluation: Editorial staff will carefully review the similarity report. A high similarity index does not automatically mean plagiarism; human oversight is crucial. The editor will assess whether the identified similarity constitutes plagiarism or is legitimate (e.g., common phrases, standard methodological descriptions in the field, or correctly cited material).

  • Author Responsibility: Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality of their manuscripts and for properly citing all sources. Authors must ensure that they have obtained permission to use any copyrighted material.

  • Handling Suspected Cases: If a suspected case of plagiarism is identified at any stage, the journal will follow its established ethical procedures for handling the allegation. This includes giving the author an opportunity to respond to the allegation.

  • Transparency: This journal is committed to transparency in the plagiarism checking process. Authors with questions about plagiarism checks are advised to contact the editorial office.

  • Continuous Improvement: The journal will periodically review and update its plagiarism policies and procedures to align with evolving best practices and standards in publication ethics.