Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use of others' published or unpublished ideas, words, data, or creative work without proper attribution, presenting them as one's own. Plagiarism is a serious violation of research ethics and scholarly integrity.

This journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward all forms of plagiarism and is committed to detecting and preventing it through rigorous screening and editorial oversight.

Types of Plagiarism

1. Verbatim (Direct) Plagiarism

Definition: Copying text word-for-word from another source without quotation marks or proper citation.

Examples:

  • Copying paragraphs directly from published articles without attribution
  • Using exact wording from books, reports, or websites without quotation marks
  • Reproducing sentences or phrases without citing the source

Acceptable Practice: Use quotation marks and provide full citation when using verbatim text.

2. Mosaic (Patchwork) Plagiarism

Definition: Mixing copied phrases from various sources with original writing without proper attribution.

Examples:

  • Combining sentences from multiple sources into a new paragraph
  • Substituting a few words or phrases while keeping the original structure
  • Rearranging sentences from other works without citation

Acceptable Practice: Paraphrase in your own words and cite all sources.

3. Paraphrasing Plagiarism

Definition: Restating someone else's ideas in different words without proper citation.

Examples:

  • Rewording a paragraph but maintaining the same meaning without citation
  • Summarizing another author's work without acknowledgment
  • Using synonyms to replace words while keeping the sentence structure

Acceptable Practice: Paraphrase substantially and cite the original source.

4. Self-Plagiarism (Text Recycling)

Definition: Reusing substantial portions of one's own previously published work without disclosure or citation.

Examples:

  • Republishing your own article in a different journal
  • Using large sections from your thesis or dissertation without citation
  • Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals (duplicate publication)
  • Republishing the same data or findings without disclosure

Acceptable Practice: Cite your own previous work and obtain permission if republishing substantial content.

5. Idea Plagiarism

Definition: Using someone else's ideas, hypotheses, or theoretical frameworks without attribution.

Examples:

  • Adopting a research hypothesis from another paper without citation
  • Using someone else's experimental design without acknowledgment
  • Building on theoretical frameworks without citing the originator

Acceptable Practice: Always cite the source of ideas, even if you express them in your own words.

6. Source Plagiarism

Definition: Citing a secondary source as if you consulted the primary source directly.

Examples:

  • Citing "Author A (1990)" after reading about it in "Author B (2020)" without acknowledging Author B
  • Copying citations from another paper without reading the original sources

Acceptable Practice: Cite as "Author A, as cited in Author B" or read the original source.

7. Data Plagiarism

Definition: Using data, figures, or tables from another source without permission or proper attribution.

Examples:

  • Reproducing tables or figures from other publications without citation and permission
  • Using datasets collected by others without acknowledgment
  • Copying graphs or charts without attribution

Acceptable Practice: Obtain permission, cite the source, and clearly indicate "Adapted from" or "Reproduced with permission from."

8. Image Plagiarism

Definition: Using images, photographs, illustrations, or graphical content from others without permission or attribution.

Examples:

  • Using microscopy images from published papers
  • Copying diagrams or flowcharts without attribution
  • Using stock photos without proper licensing

Acceptable Practice: Create original images or obtain permission and provide clear attribution.

Plagiarism Detection

Screening Process

All submitted manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening using industry-standard detection software:

  • iThenticate (Crossref Similarity Check)
  • Turnitin
  • Plagscan
  • Other plagiarism detection tools

Detection Stages

  1. Initial Submission - All manuscripts screened before editorial review
  2. Revision Stage - Revised manuscripts re-checked for plagiarism
  3. Pre-Publication - Final check before article goes live
  4. Post-Publication - Ongoing monitoring for reported cases

Acceptable Similarity Thresholds

Similarity scores from plagiarism detection software are evaluated as follows:

Similarity Score Assessment Action
0-15% Acceptable Manuscript proceeds to review (if similarity is from references, methods, or common phrases)
15-30% Moderate Editor reviews report; may require revision or clarification
30-50% High Requires significant revision; authors must provide explanation
Above 50% Unacceptable Likely desk rejection; investigated for misconduct

Important Notes:

  • Similarity score alone does not determine plagiarism - context matters
  • High similarity from references, common phrases, or methodology descriptions may be acceptable
  • Low similarity does not guarantee absence of plagiarism (paraphrased plagiarism may have low scores)
  • Editors evaluate each case individually

Author Responsibilities

Before Submission

Authors must:

  • Ensure all work is original or properly attributed
  • Check their manuscript using plagiarism detection software
  • Properly cite all sources, including their own previous work
  • Obtain permissions for reproducing copyrighted material
  • Use quotation marks for any verbatim text
  • Paraphrase substantially, not just rearrange words

Proper Citation Practices

To avoid plagiarism:

  • Cite frequently - When in doubt, cite the source
  • Use quotation marks - For any verbatim text, even short phrases
  • Paraphrase properly - Use your own words and sentence structure
  • Cite ideas - Not just direct quotes, but also concepts and theories
  • Cite data - Acknowledge sources of data, statistics, and figures
  • Cite yourself - Reference your own previous publications

Handling Plagiarism Cases

Suspected Plagiarism Before Publication

Step 1: Detection

  • Plagiarism detected by software or identified by editor/reviewer
  • Editor reviews the similarity report and evaluates severity

Step 2: Author Notification

  • Authors are contacted with details of the concern
  • Authors given opportunity to respond (typically 10 days)
  • Authors may provide explanation, clarification, or revision

Step 3: Editorial Decision

  • Minor plagiarism: Request revision with proper citations
  • Moderate plagiarism: Request major revision or reject with resubmission option
  • Severe plagiarism: Reject manuscript immediately
  • Deliberate plagiarism: Reject, notify institution, ban from future submissions

Confirmed Plagiarism After Publication

If plagiarism is discovered after publication:

  1. Investigation
    • Editor investigates the allegation
    • Authors contacted for explanation
    • Independent experts consulted if needed
  2. Institution Notification
    • Authors' institutions informed of the investigation
    • Request for institutional review if serious misconduct suspected
  3. Correction or Retraction
    • Minor issues: Publish correction with proper citations
    • Substantial plagiarism: Retract the article
    • Retraction notice published explaining reasons
    • Original article marked as "RETRACTED" but remains visible
  4. Database Notification
    • Indexing services (PubMed, Scopus, etc.) notified of retraction
    • DOI linked to retraction notice
  5. Sanctions
    • Ban from future submissions (1-5 years or permanent)
    • Notification to COPE and other ethics bodies
    • Public statement if misconduct is severe

Consequences of Plagiarism

For Authors

  • Manuscript rejection - Immediate rejection of submission
  • Institutional notification - Employer/university informed
  • Publication ban - Prohibition from submitting to this journal (1 year to permanent)
  • Retraction - Published article retracted with public notice
  • Reputational damage - Loss of credibility in scientific community
  • Career impact - Potential disciplinary action by institution
  • Legal consequences - Possible copyright infringement lawsuits

For the Journal

  • Damaged reputation if plagiarism goes undetected
  • Loss of indexing status in databases
  • Reduced trust from academic community

Self-Plagiarism Guidelines

Acceptable Reuse of Your Own Work

Limited reuse is acceptable when:

  • Describing standard methods in multiple papers
  • Providing essential background information
  • Reusing small portions with proper self-citation
  • Republishing with permission (e.g., thesis → journal article)

Unacceptable Self-Plagiarism

  • Submitting the same article to multiple journals
  • Publishing substantially overlapping articles without disclosure
  • Salami slicing (splitting one study into multiple publications inappropriately)
  • Republishing the same data without adding new insights

How to Avoid Self-Plagiarism

  • Cite your previous work
  • Paraphrase even your own text
  • Disclose relationships between manuscripts
  • Obtain permission to reuse substantial content from publishers

Reporting Plagiarism

If You Suspect Plagiarism

Readers, authors, or reviewers who suspect plagiarism should report it to:

Email: ethics@[journaldomain].com
Subject: Plagiarism Report - [Manuscript ID or Article Title]

Include:

  • Article details (title, authors, DOI/URL)
  • Description of plagiarism with evidence
  • Links to original sources
  • Any relevant documentation

All reports will be treated confidentially and investigated promptly.

Avoiding Plagiarism: Best Practices

  1. Take detailed notes - Record source information during research
  2. Use quotation marks - For any verbatim copying, even in notes
  3. Paraphrase properly - Don't just rearrange words, restate concepts
  4. Cite generously - Better to over-cite than under-cite
  5. Use reference management software - Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote
  6. Check your work - Use plagiarism detection tools before submission
  7. Understand fair use - Know copyright laws in your jurisdiction
  8. Get permission - For reproducing copyrighted figures, tables, or text
  9. Keep records - Maintain notes, drafts, and permissions
  10. When in doubt, cite - If unsure whether to cite, always cite

Resources for Authors

Citation Style Guides

  • Vancouver style (NLM/PubMed) - Medical and biomedical sciences
  • APA style - Psychology and social sciences
  • AMA style - Medical journals
  • IEEE style - Engineering and technology

Plagiarism Check Tools

Paraphrasing Tools (Use with Caution)

  • QuillBot (AI-powered paraphrasing)
  • Wordtune
  • Grammarly

Warning: Always review and verify AI-paraphrased text. Improper paraphrasing is still plagiarism.

Further Information

Contact Us

Questions about plagiarism or this policy?

Email: editor@[journaldomain].com
Subject: Plagiarism Policy Inquiry

Last Updated: February 2026

This policy follows guidelines from COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) and international best practices in scholarly publishing.

Note: Replace [journaldomain].com with the actual journal domain when implementing.