Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is the act of presenting others’ work, ideas, or data without proper attribution, and is a serious breach of research ethics. Forms of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:

  • Verbatim Copying: Using text from a source without quotation marks or proper citation.
  • Paraphrasing without Attribution: Rewording content or ideas without acknowledging the source.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing one’s own previously published work without disclosure or citation.
  • Data Fabrication/Falsification: manipulating data or research results.

General Principles of the Publishing Policy

  1. Originality
    All submitted manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. Authors are responsible for ensuring their work is free of all forms of plagiarism.
  2. Citation and Referencing
    Authors must accurately cite all sources used in accordance with the APA, 7th Edition referencing style.
  3. Declaration of Originality
    Authors must submit a signed declaration affirming the originality of the manuscript and its compliance with ethical publishing standards.
  4. Automated Plagiarism Checks
    All submissions are screened using Turnitin. Manuscripts found to contain substantial plagiarism will be rejected or returned for revision.
  5. Actions upon Detection of Plagiarism

Specific procedures apply when plagiarism is detected. Depending on the severity of the violation, the following actions may be taken:

  • Notification and Resubmission: Manuscripts may be returned to authors with detailed revision notes.
  • Direct Rejection: If confirmed plagiarism is identified.
  • Blacklisting: Authors may be prohibited from future submissions.
  • Right to Appeal: Authors may submit a formal written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief if they believe an error or misjudgment occurred. The Editorial Board will review the appeal and issue a final decision.

Consequences of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious violation that negatively impacts academic credibility. Penalties may include:

  • Rejection of the manuscript.
  • Temporary or permanent ban from publishing in the journal.
  • Notification of the relevant academic institutions or funding bodies.
  • Retraction of the published manuscript, accompanied by an official statement.