Plagiarism Policy

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism involves using someone else’s work, ideas, or words without proper acknowledgment or permission. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Verbatim copying of text, images, figures, or data.
  • Paraphrasing without citation.
  • Use of another’s research findings, concepts, or insights without proper credit.
  • Self-plagiarism, which refers to reusing significant portions of one’s own previously published work without appropriate referencing or justification.

Types of Plagiarism

The journal recognizes the following forms of plagiarism:

  • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text word-for-word without citation.
  • Mosaic Plagiarism: Borrowing ideas or phrases from different sources and blending them without proper acknowledgment.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing portions of one’s own previously published work without citation or permission from the relevant journal or publisher.
  • Accidental Plagiarism: Unintended failure to cite sources correctly. Though unintentional, this is still considered a breach of ethical standards.

Plagiarism Detection

All submitted manuscripts will be screened using plagiarism detection tools (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate) before being sent for peer review. A similarity index of up to 10-15% may be acceptable, depending on the nature of the paper. Any manuscript exceeding this threshold will be reviewed for potential ethical violations.

Consequences of Plagiarism

If plagiarism is detected at any stage:

  • Before publication: The manuscript will be rejected, and the corresponding author will be notified. Depending on the severity, the journal may ban the author(s) from submitting to the journal for a specified period.
  • After publication: If plagiarism is discovered post-publication, the journal will take immediate steps to retract the article. A notice of retraction will be issued, and the published article will be marked as “retracted” in all indexing databases.

In both cases, the author’s institution may be informed of the misconduct, depending on the severity of the case.

Author Responsibility

It is the responsibility of the authors to ensure that their work is original, properly cited, and adheres to ethical standards of publication. By submitting a manuscript to the journal, the authors affirm that:

  • The work is their own.
  • All external sources are properly acknowledged.
  • Any overlap with their own previous publications is minimal and appropriately cited.

Appeals and Corrections

Authors accused of plagiarism have the right to appeal against the journal’s decision. Any appeal must be submitted within 30 days of the decision notification. Authors may also submit corrections if they believe plagiarism occurred unintentionally or due to oversight.

Collaborative Efforts

The journal encourages ethical collaborations and advises authors to be transparent in acknowledging the contributions of co-authors, collaborators, and other stakeholders in their work.

Final Considerations

Plagiarism is a serious ethical violation and undermines the integrity of scholarly communication. The journal is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards and promoting originality, transparency, and accountability in research and publication.