The journal is committed to maintaining high standards of academic integrity and publication ethics. Manuscripts submitted for publication must represent original scholarly work and must appropriately acknowledge all sources, ideas, data and previously published material used in the research.

Plagiarism, including the presentation of another person’s words, ideas, data, images or other intellectual contribution as one’s own without appropriate acknowledgement, is not acceptable.

 

Text Similarity Screening

All submitted manuscripts are screened using iThenticate text-similarity detection software as part of the journal’s initial editorial assessment.

The Similarity Report identifies textual matches between a submitted manuscript and material available in the databases searched by the software. A similarity score is not, by itself, evidence of plagiarism. All reports are therefore assessed by the editorial team to determine the nature, extent and context of the identified similarities.

Legitimate similarities may include properly cited quotations, references, standard methodological terminology, names of institutions or instruments, and other text that does not constitute plagiarism.

Conversely, a relatively low similarity score does not exclude the possibility of plagiarism where unattributed copying or inappropriate reuse is identified.

 

Similarity Screening Criteria

For preliminary editorial screening, the journal may use the following indicative similarity levels:

• overall similarity of up to 15% – the manuscript may proceed to further editorial assessment, provided that no problematic textual overlap is identified;
• overall similarity of more than 15% and up to 25% – the manuscript is subject to additional editorial assessment, and the authors may be asked to revise inappropriate textual overlap, quotation or citation practices;
• overall similarity exceeding 25% – the manuscript is subject to detailed editorial assessment and may be returned to the authors for revision or rejected where substantial inappropriate overlap is confirmed.

A match of more than 3% with a single source may trigger additional editorial assessment.

These percentages are used only as screening indicators and do not constitute automatic thresholds for determining plagiarism. Editorial decisions are based on the content and context of the identified matches rather than on the numerical similarity score alone.

 

Assessment of Suspected Plagiarism

Where potentially inappropriate textual overlap is identified, the editorial team will assess:

• the extent and location of the overlapping material;
• whether the original source has been appropriately cited;
• whether quotation marks or other appropriate attribution have been used;
• whether the overlap concerns original ideas, findings, data or distinctive wording;
• whether the similarity results from legitimate methodological or technical language;
• whether the manuscript contains inappropriate reuse of the authors’ own previously published material; and
• whether the overlap materially affects the originality or integrity of the manuscript.

Where clarification is required, the Editorial Office may contact the author(s) and request an explanation, revision or supporting information.

 

Editorial Action Before Publication

If inappropriate textual borrowing or plagiarism is substantiated while a manuscript is under consideration, the journal may take action proportionate to the nature and extent of the issue.

Depending on the circumstances, the manuscript may:

• be returned to the authors for appropriate correction;
• be rejected where substantial plagiarism or other serious inappropriate reuse is confirmed; or
• be subject to further investigation in accordance with the journal’s publication ethics procedures.

A manuscript will not be rejected solely on the basis of an automatically generated similarity percentage without editorial assessment of the relevant matches.

 

Plagiarism Identified After Publication

If concerns about plagiarism are raised after publication, the journal will assess the available evidence and, where necessary, contact the author(s) and other relevant parties for clarification.

Confirmed plagiarism will be addressed in accordance with the journal’s Corrections and Retractions Policy and relevant COPE guidance.

Depending on the extent and significance of the affected material, appropriate action may include a correction, retraction or other post-publication notice necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Retraction will be considered where the plagiarism is sufficiently substantial to undermine the originality, reliability or integrity of the published article.