Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy

Definition:

Plagiarism refers to the use of another person’s work—such as text, ideas, data, or images—without appropriate attribution, presenting it as one’s own.

This includes:

  • Verbatim copying: Quoting a passage of 15 or more consecutive words from another source without quotation marks.
  • Paraphrasing without proper citation
  • Idea Plagiarism: The use of someone else's original idea, hypothesis, method, or approach without proper attribution.
  • Self-plagiarism: Reusing one's previously published work without proper disclosure

Screening Process:

Initial Check: All submissions, including the initial submission and post-revision versions, are screened multiple times using similarity detection software (iThenticate). (Similarity threshold excluding references: < 20%).

  

Author Responsibilities:

  • The author is responsible for ensuring that the submitted work is entirely their own original contribution.
  • Accurate and complete citation: If any idea, text, data, or method belongs to someone else, it must be properly and correctly referenced.
  • Disclose overlapping publications in cover letters
  • Considering and addressing similarity reports
  • Obtain permissions for reused figures/tables
  • Cite preprint/postprint versions if used

 

Appeals:

  • Appeal Period:

Appeals must be submitted within 14 (fourteen) days from the date the decision is communicated in writing.

  • Detailed Explanation:

The appeal must clearly explain each ground for objection in a numbered list, providing a reasoned assessment of which findings are incorrect or misinterpreted and why.

  • Revised Manuscript:

The author(s) should include a revised version of the work incorporating any corrections or explanations in the appeal. Changes made in the revised manuscript must be clearly highlighted (e.g., underlined, colored, or annotated) to ensure they are easily identifiable.

  • Supporting Documents (if any):

Any additional documents, sources, or prior correspondence that support the appeal should also be included in the submission.

This policy aligns with COPE Guidelines (Version 4, 2023) and WAME recommendations.