Plagiarism Policy and Similarity Check

SCIENCE – International Journal (SIJ) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and publication ethics. All submitted manuscripts are expected to be original works that have not been published previously and are not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the use of another author’s work, ideas, data, images, tables, or text without appropriate acknowledgment or citation. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct copying of text or figures without proper attribution

  • Substantial similarity to previously published works

  • Inadequate paraphrasing or mosaic plagiarism

  • Self-plagiarism, including redundant or duplicate publication

  • Unauthorized reuse of previously published material

Plagiarism in any form constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.

Similarity Check Procedure

All manuscripts submitted to SIJ are screened for similarity using iThenticate plagiarism detection software prior to the peer-review process. The similarity report is evaluated by the editorial team to distinguish acceptable similarity (e.g., references, methodology descriptions, standard terminology) from potentially unethical overlap.

Similarity percentages are interpreted contextually rather than mechanically. As a general guideline:

  • Minor similarity (e.g., references, standard phrases) is acceptable

  • Moderate similarity may require revision or clarification

  • High or systematic similarity may result in rejection

The final decision is always based on editorial judgment, not solely on numerical similarity scores.

Editorial Actions in Cases of Plagiarism

If plagiarism or unethical similarity is detected at any stage of the editorial or publication process, the journal may take one or more of the following actions, in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines:

  • Request clarification or revision from the authors

  • Reject the manuscript prior to publication

  • Retract the article after publication

  • Publish a correction, retraction, or expression of concern

  • Inform the authors’ affiliated institutions or relevant authorities, where appropriate

Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

  • Their submission is original and properly cited

  • All sources are appropriately acknowledged

  • Any reuse of previously published material is clearly disclosed

  • Permissions are obtained for copyrighted material, where required

By submitting a manuscript to SIJ, authors confirm that they adhere to these ethical standards.

Post-Publication Similarity

If significant similarity or plagiarism is identified after publication, the journal will conduct a formal investigation. Depending on the findings, corrective actions will be taken in line with COPE recommendations, including corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern.

Ethical Standards

SIJ follows the principles and best practices outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all authors, reviewers, and editors to adhere to these standards.