Plagiarism Screening

Purpose

This policy establishes guidelines to ensure the originality and integrity of all manuscripts submitted to the journal. It aims to prevent plagiarism, promote ethical authorship practices, and maintain the credibility of published research.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using another person’s ideas, words, data, or intellectual property without proper acknowledgment or permission, presenting them as one’s own. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying text verbatim without quotation marks and proper citation.

• Paraphrasing or summarizing another’s work without attribution.

• Using data, images, or ideas from other sources without permission or acknowledgment.

• Self-plagiarism, i.e., reusing significant portions of one’s own previously published work without disclosure or justification.

Plagiarism Screening Process

1. Screening Tool: All submitted manuscripts will be screened for plagiarism using iThenticate or Turnitin software to detect similarities with existing published works, including journal articles, books, and online content.

2. Similarity Threshold: Manuscripts must have a similarity index of 20% or less, excluding properly cited quotations, references, and common phrases. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold will be subject to further review.

3. Exclusions: The following are excluded from the similarity index calculation:

   • Bibliographic references and citations formatted according to the journal’s style guide (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).

   • Direct quotations clearly marked with quotation marks and proper attribution.

   • Common knowledge or widely used terminology in the field.

Procedure for Handling Plagiarism

1. Initial Screening: Upon submission, manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software. A report is generated for review by the editorial team.

2. Evaluation: If the similarity index exceeds 20%, the editorial team will:

   • Assess whether the similarities are due to improper citation, excessive paraphrasing, or unattributed content.

   • Determine if the issue is minor (e.g., inadequate citation) or major (e.g., verbatim copying without attribution).

3. Actions: Based on the severity of plagiarism detected:

   • Minor Issues: Authors will be notified and requested to revise the manuscript to address citation or paraphrasing issues within a specified timeframe (e.g., 14 days).

   • Major Issues: Manuscripts with significant plagiarism will be rejected outright, and authors will be notified with a detailed explanation.

   • Repeat Offenses: Authors found to have committed plagiarism in multiple submissions may be banned from submitting to the journal for a specified period (e.g., 2 years).

4. Appeals: Authors may appeal a plagiarism decision by submitting a written explanation to the editorial board within 14 days. The board’s decision after review is final.

Author Responsibilities

• Authors must ensure their work is original and properly acknowledges all sources used.

• All co-authors must agree to the submission and verify the manuscript’s originality.

• Authors must disclose any reuse of their own previously published work and justify its inclusion.

• Authors are encouraged to check their manuscript using plagiarism detection tools before submission to ensure compliance with this policy.

Consequences of Plagiarism

• Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism will be rejected or retracted if already published.

• A retraction notice will be published in the journal, citing plagiarism as the reason.

• Institutions or funding agencies associated with the author(s) may be notified in cases of severe plagiarism.

• The journal reserves the right to impose sanctions, such as temporary or permanent bans on future submissions.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing

The journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity. By adhering to this plagiarism policy, we aim to foster trust among authors, reviewers, readers, and the broader academic community.