PLAGIARISM AND RESEARCH INTEGRITY POLICY

2 screening tools: Turnitin and Plagiarism Checker X

About 15% similarity that may trigger an extra editorial check

11 forms of plagiarism listed

Editors make the final judgment

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1Definition of Plagiarism

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Plagiarism is claiming the words, ideas, data, arguments, images, results, creative work, or other contributions of someone else as one’s own, without the attribution, citation, or permission that is needed. It may be deliberate or the result of carelessness. Authors must identify and acknowledge every source they use.

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2Forms of Plagiarism

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The forms below are examples. The list is not complete.

Form	Description
Direct plagiarism	Copying text word for word without quotation marks and a citation.
Paraphrasing without attribution	Rewording the sentences of others without naming the source.
Mosaic or patchwork plagiarism	Combining or slightly changing material from several sources without acknowledgment.
Unattributed ideas	Using the theories or interpretations of others without giving credit.
Improper use of data	Using data, statistics, or the results of an analysis without naming the source.
Improper use of protected material	Using figures, tables, instruments (such as questionnaires, tests, and scales), modules, and other material without attribution or permission.
Quotation misrepresentation	Quoting without clearly marking the text as a quotation.
Source misrepresentation	Giving citations that are inaccurate or misleading.
Translation plagiarism	Translating text from another language and presenting it as original writing.
Unauthorized authorship	Submitting work that someone else wrote, including work from paid writing services.
Inappropriate text recycling	Reusing text that has already been published without disclosure and citation.

The use of generative AI to write or rewrite text must follow the Generative AI Policies of the journal.

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3Text Recycling, Articles Based on Theses, and Redundant Publication

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Situation	Rule
Reusing your own published work	Authors must disclose and cite their own published work that is reused.
Substantial duplication	Substantial duplication may be treated as text recycling or as redundant publication.
Limited overlap	Limited overlap, for example in the description of methods, can be acceptable.
How the editors judge	The editors consider the amount of duplication, where it appears in the manuscript, the context, the attribution, the need for it, and its scientific significance.
Articles based on a thesis or dissertation	The origin must be stated, for example in the Acknowledgments, and the work must be rewritten as an article and not copied.
Simultaneous submission	The same manuscript must not be submitted to another journal at the same time.

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4Similarity and Plagiarism Screening

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Similarity Indicator

Item	Policy
Screening tools	Manuscripts are checked with Turnitin and Plagiarism Checker X.
Similarity level	A similarity of about 15% or more may lead to an additional editorial check.
What the figure means	The figure is not a limit for automatic rejection, and it is not proof of plagiarism. A manuscript below 15% can still contain plagiarism, and a manuscript above 15% may contain only acceptable matches.
Final judgment	The editors make the final judgment. The percentage is only an early signal.

Matches that are normally acceptable
Reference lists and bibliographies
Quotations that are marked and cited correctly
Common terms
Standard statements of method
Names of institutions
Legitimate references to earlier publications

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5Other Forms of Research Misconduct

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The following are treated as serious even when there is no plagiarism. They are handled under Publication Ethics and the Allegations of Misconduct policy.

No.	Form of misconduct
1	Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data, including data from participants, patients, or other individuals.
2	Manipulation or duplication of images.
3	Fake or falsified references and DOIs.
4	Manipulation of citations.
5	Undisclosed duplicate publication or redundant publication.
6	Inappropriate authorship practices (see Authorship and Contributorship).
7	Manipulation of the peer review process.
8	Deliberate misrepresentation of methods, ethical approval, consent, participants, findings, or sources.

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6Editorial Screening Procedure

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Step	Stage	What happens
1	Screening	The manuscript is checked with similarity and integrity tools.
2	Human assessment	The editors review the matching passages and their sources.
3	Clarification	Authors may be asked to explain, correct, add citations, rewrite, or provide documents.
4	Editorial decision	The outcome is adjusted to the seriousness of the problem.

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7Action Before Publication

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No.	Possible action
1	Ask the authors for clarification.
2	Ask for corrections to citations or attribution.
3	Ask for the rewriting or revision of overlapping passages.
4	Ask for data, permissions, or supporting documents.
5	Pause the editorial evaluation.
6	Reject the manuscript if serious plagiarism, duplication, fabrication, falsification, or another serious violation is proven.

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8Action After Publication

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Actions after publication follow the Correction and Retraction policy.

No.	Possible action
1	A correction or corrigendum.
2	An expression of concern while an investigation is not yet complete.
3	A retraction if the published record cannot be relied on or a serious violation is proven.
4	Notification of the institution or other authorities concerned.
5	Other proportionate steps to protect the scholarly record.

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Automated Screening and Human Oversight

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Screening tools help the editors, but they cannot decide on their own. Qualified editors interpret the results in the context of the manuscript, and the final decision always rests with them.

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Screening Policy Summary

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Topic	Policy
Tools	Turnitin and Plagiarism Checker X
Similarity indicator	About 15% or more may lead to an additional editorial check. It is not a limit for automatic rejection.
Normally excluded matches	References, correctly marked and cited quotations, common terms, standard statements of method, names of institutions, and legitimate references to earlier work
Who decides	Qualified editors, after a human assessment
Before publication	Clarification, correction, rewriting, supporting documents, a pause, or rejection
After publication	Correction, expression of concern, retraction, and notification of the institution

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Our Commitment

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