Plagiarism Policy

1. Introduction

The Journal upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. Plagiarism, in any form, is considered a serious violation of research ethics. Authors submitting manuscripts to this journal must ensure that their work is original, properly cited, and free from any form of plagiarism or academic misconduct. This policy outlines the journal’s definition, detection, procedures, and consequences regarding plagiarism.

2. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, words, data, or creative expressions as one’s own without appropriate acknowledgment. It includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Direct Plagiarism: Copying text word-for-word from another source without quotation marks or citation.
Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously published work (or substantial parts of it) without proper citation or justification (also known as duplicate publication).
Mosaic or Patchwork Plagiarism: Borrowing phrases, sentences, or ideas from various sources and blending them into new text without proper attribution.
Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rephrasing someone else’s ideas without citation or acknowledgment, even if the wording is changed.
Image, Data, or Figure Plagiarism: Using images, tables, figures, or data from other sources without obtaining permission or citing the source.
Source-Based Plagiarism: Citing incorrect or fabricated sources, or misrepresenting the original context of a citation.

3. Acceptable Similarity Threshold

All submitted manuscripts will be screened for plagiarism using reliable plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate).

The acceptable similarity index for submitted manuscripts is below 20% (excluding references, quotations, and methodological phrases).
However, no single source should contribute more than 2–3% to the similarity score.
Manuscripts exceeding this threshold will be returned to the author for revision or may be rejected, depending on the severity.

4. Screening Process

Initial Screening: Every manuscript undergoes plagiarism detection before the peer review process begins.
Editorial Review: The editorial team reviews the similarity report and determines whether the overlap constitutes plagiarism or acceptable academic writing.
Author Notification: If potential plagiarism is detected, the corresponding author will be informed and asked for clarification or revision within a specified time.
Resubmission: Authors may be allowed to resubmit a revised manuscript if the plagiarism is deemed unintentional or minor.
Rejection or Retraction: If plagiarism is extensive or intentional, the manuscript will be rejected immediately. Published articles found to contain plagiarism will be retracted and a retraction notice will be published on the journal’s website.

5. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must ensure that the submitted manuscript is their original work and has not been published elsewhere in whole or in part.
Proper citation and quotation must be provided whenever other works are referred to or reproduced.
Authors must obtain written permission for the use of copyrighted material, including figures, tables, and data.
If previously published materials are reused (e.g., in methodology), they must be cited and clearly identified as such.
All authors share equal responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the submitted manuscript.

6. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers must maintain confidentiality and objectivity during the review process.
If an editor or reviewer suspects plagiarism, they must report it to the Editor-in-Chief immediately.
The editorial board will investigate the claim, consult the plagiarism report, and contact the author(s) if necessary.
The decision to reject, request revision, or retract a manuscript lies solely with the editorial board after careful evaluation.