Plagiarism Statement
The International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science (IJITSS) upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and strictly prohibits all forms of plagiarism. Plagiarism, in all its forms - whether intentional or unintentional - is a serious violation of ethical conduct and can severely damage the credibility of academic research. IJITSS is committed to taking appropriate action against any form of plagiarism in submitted and published works.
1. Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism occurs when an author deliberately uses another’s work - ideas, words, data, or findings - without proper acknowledgment. This includes:
- Direct Plagiarism: Copying text or ideas from another source without proper citation.
- Self-Plagiarism: Reusing portions of one's own previously published work without appropriate attribution or permission.
- Mosaic Plagiarism: Paraphrasing material from a source without proper acknowledgment.
- Inaccurate Citation: Falsely attributing information to incorrect or non-existent sources.
2. Plagiarism Detection
All submitted manuscripts are subject to screening through plagiarism detection software to identify any instances of overlapping or similar content. IJITSS uses state-of-the-art tools to ensure that submitted work is original and properly cited.
- Manuscripts with high similarity scores may be rejected immediately.
- Authors may be given the opportunity to revise their manuscripts in cases of minor plagiarism, provided they make the necessary corrections and proper citations.
3. Consequences of Plagiarism
If plagiarism is identified during any stage of the publication process, IJITSS will take the following actions based on the severity of the offense:
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Before Acceptance: If plagiarism is detected before a manuscript is accepted, it will be rejected, and the authors will be notified. In cases of severe plagiarism, IJITSS reserves the right to inform the authors' institution or relevant authorities.
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After Publication: If plagiarism is discovered post-publication, the journal will issue a retraction or correction, depending on the extent of the plagiarism. The retracted article will remain accessible on the journal’s website with a clear notice of the retraction and the reason behind it.
4. Author Responsibilities
Authors must ensure that the submitted work is their own and that all sources are properly cited. This includes:
- Appropriately acknowledging the work and ideas of others.
- Not submitting work that has been previously published without proper citation or permission.
- Avoiding the use of large portions of text from other sources, even with proper citation.
5. Handling Allegations of Plagiarism
IJITSS follows a structured process when handling allegations of plagiarism:
- Investigation: The editorial team will review the claim thoroughly, using plagiarism detection tools and evidence submitted by the complainant.
- Communication with Authors: Authors will be informed of the allegations and provided an opportunity to respond to the claims.
- Resolution: Based on the findings, the editorial team will decide whether to reject, revise, retract, or issue a correction for the article.
6. Appeals
Authors who believe their manuscript was wrongly accused of plagiarism may appeal the decision. Appeals will be reviewed by the editorial board, and a final decision will be made following a thorough investigation.