SJPed is committed to publishing only original work. Every submitted manuscript is screened with similarity-detection software (Turnitin / iThenticate) during initial (desk) evaluation and again before acceptance.

Plagiarism Levels & Actions

Definition

Plagiarism is the use of another person's words, ideas, data, or results without appropriate attribution. It includes verbatim copying, paraphrasing without citation, and the appropriation of ideas, and applies regardless of the source and regardless of whether the original authorship is known. The recycling of an author's own previously published text without acknowledgement (self-plagiarism) is also unacceptable.

Acceptance Threshold

As a guide, the overall similarity index should be below 20%, with no single source exceeding 5%, excluding the reference list and properly quoted material. The index is interpreted with editorial judgement, since a high score may result from legitimate matches.

Handling of Detected Plagiarism (COPE-aligned)

• Minor (a short passage without significant data or ideas): the authors are warned and asked to revise and cite the sources correctly.
• Intermediate (significant text, data, or ideas without proper attribution): the manuscript is rejected.
• Severe (a large portion reproducing data, ideas, or methods of others): the manuscript is rejected, the authors' institution may be notified, and the authors may be barred from future submission.

Plagiarism detected after publication is handled under the Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern provisions of the Publication Ethics statement.