PLAGIARISM POLICY

 

Hata Poda Journal

Hata Poda Journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical publishing. The Journal considers plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct serious violations of publication ethics. This policy establishes the principles and procedures for identifying, assessing, and addressing plagiarism in submitted and published manuscripts.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when an author uses another person's words, ideas, data, research findings, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment or attribution. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct plagiarism: Copying text from another source without quotation marks or appropriate citation.

  • Paraphrasing plagiarism: Rewriting or summarizing another person's work without acknowledging the original source.

  • Idea plagiarism: Using another person's ideas, arguments, theories, or interpretations without proper attribution.

  • Data and image plagiarism: Using data, tables, figures, photographs, illustrations, or other materials without appropriate acknowledgment or permission where required.

  • Self-plagiarism: Reusing substantial portions of one's previously published work without proper citation or disclosure.

  • Duplicate publication: Submitting or publishing substantially the same work in more than one publication without appropriate disclosure or justification.

  • Contract cheating or purchased manuscripts: Submitting work written by another person or obtained through unauthorized services and presenting it as one's own.

  • Improper source attribution: Providing inaccurate, misleading, or incomplete citations that obscure the original source of the material.

Authors must ensure that their manuscripts represent original scholarly work and that all borrowed materials are appropriately acknowledged.

2. Similarity Screening

All manuscripts submitted to Hata Poda Journal may be screened using plagiarism-detection or text-similarity software, such as Turnitin or iThenticate, where available.

The Journal applies a maximum similarity index of 20%, excluding references and bibliography, as an initial screening guideline. This threshold is intended to support the assessment of textual originality and is not, by itself, a definitive determination of plagiarism.

The Editorial Team will evaluate similarity reports by examining the nature, location, source, and context of the matching text. Properly cited quotations, standard terminology, commonly used phrases, and bibliographic entries may contribute to similarity scores without necessarily constituting plagiarism.

A manuscript with a similarity index exceeding 20% may be returned to the author for revision or rejected, depending on the extent and nature of the overlap. A manuscript with a lower similarity score may also be rejected if substantial unattributed copying or other forms of plagiarism are identified.

3. Plagiarism Screening Procedure

The Journal follows these procedures when assessing potential plagiarism:

A. Initial Screening

Upon submission, manuscripts may be checked for textual similarity as part of the initial editorial assessment.

B. Evaluation of Similarity Reports

The Editorial Team examines the similarity report to determine whether the identified overlap involves properly attributed material, acceptable quotations, common expressions, or potentially plagiarized content.

C. Editorial Decision

Based on the findings, the Editorial Team may:

  • Allow the manuscript to proceed to peer review.

  • Request revisions and appropriate citations.

  • Request an explanation from the author regarding the identified overlap.

  • Reject the manuscript if serious plagiarism or other substantial ethical violations are established.

D. Communication with Authors

Where clarification is required, the corresponding author will be informed of the concerns and may be provided with relevant information from the similarity report. Authors will be given an appropriate opportunity to respond when necessary.

4. Consequences of Plagiarism

Plagiarism identified at any stage of the publication process will be addressed in accordance with the seriousness of the violation and the Journal's publication ethics policies.

A. Before Publication

If plagiarism is established during the initial screening, peer review, or editorial assessment, the manuscript may be returned for correction or rejected. Serious cases may result in immediate rejection.

B. After Publication

If credible evidence of plagiarism is identified after publication, the Journal will investigate the matter and provide the authors concerned with an opportunity to respond, as appropriate. Depending on the findings, the Journal may publish a correction, issue an expression of concern, or retract the article in accordance with its Correction and Retraction Policy.

C. Notification of Relevant Institutions

In serious cases involving substantiated research misconduct, the Journal may notify the author's affiliated institution or other relevant parties when appropriate and consistent with applicable policies and legal requirements.

D. Future Submissions

In cases of serious or repeated plagiarism, the Editorial Team may impose proportionate restrictions on future submissions in accordance with the Journal's publication ethics procedures. Any such decision will be based on the circumstances and severity of the case.

5. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to Hata Poda Journal are responsible for ensuring that their work meets the standards of academic integrity and publication ethics. Authors must:

  1. Ensure that submitted manuscripts are original and have not been improperly copied from other sources.

  2. Cite all sources of ideas, arguments, data, quotations, and research findings used in the manuscript.

  3. Use quotation marks and appropriate citations when reproducing another author's words verbatim.

  4. Obtain permissions for copyrighted third-party materials, including images, tables, figures, and other content, whenever required.

  5. Disclose any substantial reuse of their own previously published work and cite the original publication appropriately.

  6. Verify the accuracy and completeness of all citations and references.

  7. Cooperate with the Editorial Team in resolving questions concerning originality, attribution, or potential plagiarism.

6. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers are expected to uphold the principles of fairness, confidentiality, and academic integrity when evaluating manuscripts.

Editors are responsible for assessing potential plagiarism concerns and determining appropriate action in accordance with the Journal's policies. Reviewers who identify suspected plagiarism should report their concerns confidentially to the editor and, where possible, provide relevant evidence.

All allegations will be assessed objectively, with due consideration given to the available evidence and the explanations provided by the parties concerned.

7. Publication Ethics Standards

Hata Poda Journal is committed to following recognized principles of publication ethics and good scholarly publishing practice. The Journal may refer to the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when handling plagiarism allegations and other publication ethics concerns.

Further information is available at: https://publicationethics.org/

8. Contact Information

Questions or concerns regarding this policy may be directed to the Editorial Team of Hata Poda Journal through the official contact details provided on the Journal's website.

Hata Poda Journal reserves the right to review and update this policy as necessary to maintain academic integrity, publication transparency, and the reliability of the scholarly record.