Plagiarism & Similarity Policy
The journal is committed to maintaining academic integrity and does not tolerate plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, redundant publication, or other forms of research and publication misconduct.
1. Originality
Authors are responsible for ensuring that submitted manuscripts are original and that all sources, ideas, words, data, images, and other materials derived from previous work are appropriately acknowledged and cited.
Material reproduced verbatim from another source must be clearly identified as a quotation and appropriately cited.
Authors must not submit a manuscript that is simultaneously under consideration by another journal.
2. Similarity Screening
All submitted manuscripts may be screened using Turnitin or other appropriate similarity-detection tools as part of the journal's editorial assessment.
Similarity reports are used as an aid to editorial assessment and do not, by themselves, establish plagiarism. The Editor-in-Chief or designated editor will consider the nature, extent, context, and sources of any textual overlap.
Legitimate similarities may arise from references, standard terminology, methodological descriptions, quotations, commonly used expressions, or other appropriately cited material.
3. Plagiarism
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
- presenting another person's words, ideas, data, images, or intellectual work as one's own;
- substantial copying without appropriate acknowledgment;
- inappropriate paraphrasing without proper citation;
- reproducing previously published material without appropriate attribution;
- self-plagiarism or substantial reuse of one's own previously published work without appropriate disclosure; and
- submitting substantially similar or overlapping work for multiple publications without appropriate justification or disclosure.
The journal assesses suspected plagiarism on a case-by-case basis rather than relying solely on a predetermined similarity percentage.
4. Editorial Action
Where substantial or inappropriate similarity is identified before publication, the journal may:
- request clarification from the authors;
- require appropriate correction, citation, or rewriting;
- request a revised manuscript;
- reject the manuscript; or
- refer the matter for further investigation where research misconduct is suspected.
The action taken will depend on the seriousness, extent, nature, and context of the identified overlap.
5. Plagiarism Discovered After Publication
If plagiarism or other serious publication misconduct is identified after publication, the journal will investigate the matter. It may take appropriate post-publication action, including publication of a correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction.
Where appropriate, the journal may also communicate with the authors' institutions or other relevant authorities.
6. Author Responsibility
Authors must ensure the originality and integrity of their manuscripts and must cooperate fully with the journal in addressing any concerns regarding similarity, plagiarism, authorship, or research integrity.
Submission of a manuscript constitutes an acknowledgment that the authors have read and agree to comply with this policy.
7. Relationship with Publication Ethics
This policy should be read together with the journal's Publication Ethics and Research Ethics Policy, Peer Review Policy and Guidelines, and Author Guidelines.
The journal follows relevant principles and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other recognized standards of research and publication integrity.
Policy status: This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to and articles published in the journal and may be updated as standards of scholarly publishing and research integrity evolve.
