Plagiarism Policy and AI Policy
This journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and publishing ethics. We have established a strict plagiarism policy designed to prevent any form of academic misconduct, including plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and improper citation.
Plagiarism Policy
1. Definition of Plagiarism.
Plagiarism is defined as the act of using another person's work, ideas, or words as one's own without proper attribution. This includes but is not limited to:
Copying and pasting text from other sources without attribution.
Paraphrasing another person's ideas without attribution.
Using charts, figures, or data from another person's work without proper acknowledgment.
Submitting previously published work without disclosure (self-plagiarism).
2. Pre-Submission Screening.
All submitted manuscripts undergo plagiarism checks using reliable detection software (e.g., Turnitin or iThenticate). This software compares submissions against extensive databases of academic publications, articles, books, and internet resources. If significant similarities to published works are detected, the editorial team flags the manuscript for further investigation.
3. Post-Submission and Review Process.
During the peer review process, reviewers must also remain vigilant for any signs of plagiarism. If plagiarism is suspected in a submitted manuscript, reviewers will notify the editorial team, and the case will undergo further examination. If plagiarism is discovered after a manuscript is accepted or published, the editorial team will take corrective actions, including retraction or revocation of the article.
4. Types of Plagiarism.
Direct Plagiarism: Verbatim copying of text, data, or images from other sources without proper citation.
Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting another's ideas or research findings without attribution.
Self-Plagiarism: Reusing substantial portions of one's own previously published work in a new submission without proper citation.
Embedded Plagiarism: Incorporating phrases or ideas from other sources without proper attribution, while altering some words or rearranging sentences.
5. Consequences of Plagiarism.
Initial Warning: If plagiarism is detected at an early stage (before acceptance), authors may be required to revise the manuscript and provide proper citations. If the issue is not adequately addressed, the article may be rejected.
Rejection: If extensive or severe plagiarism is found, the manuscript will be rejected outright, and the author may be barred from future submissions to the journal.
Retraction: If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the article may be retracted, and the author notified. A retraction notice may also be published.
Institutional Reporting: For severe academic misconduct, the journal may report the author to their institution or other relevant bodies for further action.
6. Author Responsibilities.
Authors must ensure all references, citations, figures, and ideas obtained from other sources are properly cited according to the journal's citation style. Authors must disclose any previously published material or ongoing work related to the submitted manuscript. This is particularly crucial when incorporating material from one's own prior publications to avoid self-plagiarism.
7. Revisions Following Plagiarism Detection.
If plagiarism is detected after submission, the editorial team will contact the author requesting revisions. The author will have the opportunity to modify the manuscript and properly cite borrowed content. If plagiarism concerns are not adequately addressed, the article will be rejected, and the manuscript will not proceed to peer review.
8. Transparency and Integrity:
This journal adheres to the ethical guidelines established by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) regarding plagiarism and academic misconduct. The editorial office ensures fair and transparent handling of all plagiarism cases. Should any issues arise, authors will be notified and given the opportunity to respond or revise their manuscripts accordingly.
9. Author Educational Resources.
This journal provides educational materials and guidance for authors on properly citing sources, avoiding plagiarism, and upholding academic integrity. These resources are available on the journal's website and can be provided upon request. Additional resources on plagiarism can be found at: https://www.plagiarism.org.
10. Generative AI Policy.
For Authors.
Authors may utilize AI tools as supplementary aids during the writing process, but these tools must never replace human critical thinking, expertise, and scholarly judgment. The use of AI tools must always remain under human supervision and control. Authors bear ultimate responsibility for the content of their work, specifically including:
Carefully reviewing and verifying the accuracy, completeness, and impartiality of all AI-generated content (including verifying source materials, as AI-generated references may contain errors or fabrications);
Thoroughly editing and adapting all materials to ensure the paper reflects the author's genuine original contributions and embodies their personal analysis, interpretation, insights, and perspectives; ensuring full transparency regarding the use of any tools or resources (AI-based or otherwise) to readers—a declaration of AI tool usage must be submitted upon submission; and verifying compliance with data privacy, intellectual property, and other rights protections throughout the writing process by reviewing the terms and conditions of the AI tools employed.
Disclosure Statement: Authors must disclose the use of AI tools to assist in writing via a separate AI statement section within the manuscript at the time of submission. This statement will be published alongside the formally accepted work.
For Reviewers.
When invited to evaluate others' manuscripts, researchers must treat submissions as confidential documents. Reviewers must not upload submitted papers or any portions thereof to generative AI tools, as this may infringe upon authors' confidentiality rights and intellectual property. If manuscripts contain personally identifiable information, it may also violate data privacy rights. Confidentiality requirements extend to peer review reports, which may contain confidential information about the manuscript and/or authors.
Authors and reviewers using AI tools must be mindful that AI may borrow others' research findings or data, potentially leading to plagiarism. When using AI for translation or editing, precautions must also be taken to avoid plagiarism, disclosure of confidential information, or infringement. This journal does not recommend that authors or reviewers use AI tools to translate or edit manuscripts or review reports.