Plagiarism Policy
Standards of Originality, Ethical Scholarship, and Editorial Evaluation
Definition
Plagiarism refers to the use of another author’s language, ideas, data, or intellectual work without proper acknowledgment and presenting it as original scholarship. Such practices violate the ethical standards of academic publishing and compromise the integrity of the scholarly record.
Forms of plagiarism may include, but are not limited to:
- Direct copying of text without quotation or citation.
- Improper paraphrasing of ideas or interpretations without attribution.
- Reuse of previously published work without disclosure (self-plagiarism).
- Replication of data, figures, or conceptual structures presented as original work.
Editorial Review Process
All submitted manuscripts are screened using recognized similarity detection tools including iThenticate and Turnitin. The editorial team evaluates similarity reports alongside contextual analysis to determine whether overlap represents legitimate scholarly referencing or potential ethical concerns.
- Preliminary Screening: Manuscripts are examined for textual similarity prior to peer review.
- Author Clarification: Where moderate similarity is identified, authors may be requested to revise citations or text.
- Ethical Review: Suspected serious misconduct is investigated following the COPE ethical guidelines.
Author Responsibilities
Authors submitting manuscripts are responsible for ensuring that their work is original and appropriately referenced. Proper attribution of sources, transparency regarding prior publications, and adherence to ethical publishing standards are essential requirements for submission.
- Provide accurate citations and references.
- Disclose overlapping or prior publications where relevant.
- Ensure originality across co-authored submissions.
- Maintain transparency regarding the use of AI-assisted writing tools.
