Plagiarism Policy

Maintaining academic integrity through strict originality standards and comprehensive similarity assessment

Definition of Plagiarism

At IJACM, plagiarism is defined as the unreferenced use of others' published and unpublished ideas, data, or words. This includes, but is not limited to:

Direct Copy-Paste

Using portions of another author's work word-for-word without quotation marks or attribution.

Example: Copying paragraphs from a published paper without quotation marks or citation.

Paraphrasing without Citation

Summarizing or rephrasing an idea from another source without giving credit.

Example: Rewriting someone else's research findings in your own words without acknowledging the source.

Self-Plagiarism (Text Recycling)

Reusing significant portions of one's own previously published work without proper citation or disclosure.

Example: Reusing methods section from your previous publication without citation.

Mosaic Plagiarism

Patching together text from various sources to create a new document without original contribution.

Example: Combining phrases from multiple papers to create a "new" literature review.

Similarity Assessment Framework

While we maintain a strict 15% threshold, the editorial team evaluates the Turnitin/iThenticate report qualitatively.

Similarity Level Assessment:

Below 15% Similarity

Manuscript proceeds to editorial screening, provided no single source accounts for a significant block of text.

< 15%

15% – 30% Similarity

Manuscript is returned to authors for "Major Revision" to improve paraphrasing and citation practices.

15–30%

Above 30% Similarity

Desk Rejection. The manuscript is rejected without review due to insufficient originality.

> 30%

Note: Common technical terminology and standard methodology descriptions are typically excluded from similarity calculations.

The Screening Process

Every manuscript undergoes a rigorous three-stage plagiarism screening process:

Initial Submission

Upon receipt, every manuscript is automatically run through plagiarism detection software (Turnitin/iThenticate) to generate a similarity report.

Editorial Review of Report

A human editor reviews the report to distinguish between common technical terminology (which is often flagged) and actual intellectual theft. The editor assesses context and intent.

Cross-Check Verification

We verify that references and citations are correctly formatted and that all quoted material is within "fair use" limits. Properly cited material is excluded from similarity calculations.

Consequences of Plagiarism

If plagiarism is detected after publication, IJACM will conduct an investigation in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines. Confirmed cases will result in:

Formal Retraction Notice

A formal Notice of Retraction published in the next issue and linked to the online version of the article, clearly stating the reason for retraction.

Institutional Notification

Notification of the author's department head or institutional ethics committee regarding the ethical violation and its consequences.

Publishing Ban

A potential publishing ban for the authors involved for a period of 1–3 years, depending on the severity of the plagiarism.

Serious Cases: For severe or repeated violations, authors may be permanently banned from submitting to IJACM, and the case may be reported to academic databases and indexing services.

Guidelines for Authors to Avoid Plagiarism

Follow these guidelines to ensure your manuscript meets IJACM's originality standards:

Always Cite

Even when discussing common knowledge in highly specialized fields, it is safer to cite the foundational paper or standard reference.

Use Quotation Marks

Any verbatim text longer than a few words must be enclosed in quotes and cited with page numbers from the original source.

Check Your Own Work

We strongly recommend authors run their manuscripts through a plagiarism checker before submission to identify potential issues.

Disclose Prior Publication

If reusing your own previously published material, clearly disclose this to the editor and provide proper citation to the original work.

COPE Compliance

IJACM strictly follows the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) for handling plagiarism and other publication ethics issues. Our procedures align with COPE's flowcharts for plagiarism investigation and resolution.

Learn more about COPE guidelines at: publicationethics.org