Plagiarism Policy

Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University International Journal of Social Sciences (SJAU-IJSS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical scholarly publishing. The journal considers plagiarism, duplicate publication, self-plagiarism, and other forms of inappropriate text or idea appropriation to be serious violations of publication ethics.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use of another person's words, ideas, data, figures, results, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgement or citation, presenting them as the author's own work.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying text from another publication without proper quotation and citation.

  • Presenting another author's ideas, arguments, findings, data, or interpretations without appropriate attribution.

  • Submitting another person's work, in whole or in part, as one's own.

  • Reusing substantial portions of the author's previously published work without proper acknowledgement (self-plagiarism/text recycling).

  • Duplicate or redundant publication of substantially the same work in more than one journal.

  • Manipulating or disguising copied material through inappropriate paraphrasing while failing to acknowledge the original source.

  • Using figures, tables, images, datasets, or other copyrighted material without appropriate attribution or permission where required.

2. Plagiarism Screening

SJAU-IJSS routinely screens submitted manuscripts for plagiarism and inappropriate textual similarity during the editorial and peer-review process.

The journal may use recognized plagiarism or similarity-detection software, such as iThenticate/Crossref Similarity Check, Turnitin, or another appropriate similarity-detection service, depending on availability.

Important: A similarity score is not, by itself, proof of plagiarism. The editor will examine the nature, source, location, and extent of the similarity before making an editorial decision.

3. Similarity and Editorial Assessment

There is no single similarity percentage that automatically determines whether a manuscript constitutes plagiarism. Editors consider:

  • The amount and nature of copied or similar material.

  • Whether the material is properly cited.

  • Whether quotations are clearly identified.

  • Whether similarity occurs in standard terminology, references, methodology, or other unavoidable sections.

  • Whether substantial original content has been appropriated.

  • Whether the manuscript substantially overlaps with the author's previous publications.

Where necessary, the editor may request an explanation, revision, additional citations, or clarification from the authors.

4. Plagiarism Detected Before Publication

If significant plagiarism or unattributed copying is identified before publication, SJAU-IJSS may take one or more of the following actions:

  1. Request an explanation from the corresponding author.

  2. Require the manuscript to be revised and properly referenced where the problem is minor.

  3. Reject the manuscript when substantial plagiarism is identified.

  4. Notify all authors of the editorial decision.

  5. In serious or unresolved cases, contact the author's institution or relevant research-integrity authority.

The action taken will depend on the seriousness and circumstances of the case.

5. Plagiarism Detected After Publication

If plagiarism is identified in an article that has already been published, the journal will investigate the allegation and review the available evidence.

Depending on the findings, the journal may:

  • Publish a correction where appropriate.

  • Publish an editorial notice or Expression of Concern when an investigation is ongoing.

  • Retract the article in serious cases.

  • Notify the authors and, where appropriate, their affiliated institution.

  • Notify other affected authors, publishers, or journals when necessary.

SJAU-IJSS will follow recognized publication-ethics procedures, including relevant COPE guidance, when handling serious allegations of plagiarism and research misconduct.

6. Self-Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication

Authors must submit original manuscripts that have not been published elsewhere and are not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.

Limited reuse of appropriately cited material, particularly unavoidable methodological descriptions, does not automatically constitute misconduct. However, substantial undisclosed duplication or redundant publication may result in rejection, correction, or retraction depending on the circumstances.

The journal may request information about related manuscripts, previous publications, conference papers, preprints, or other versions of the work when necessary.

7. Responsibilities of Authors

By submitting a manuscript to SJAU-IJSS, authors confirm that:

  • The submitted work is substantially original.

  • All sources have been appropriately cited.

  • Quotations are clearly identified and referenced.

  • Ideas, data, figures, tables, and other contributions obtained from other sources are properly acknowledged.

  • The manuscript has not been published elsewhere in substantially the same form.

  • The manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.

  • All authors are aware of and approve the submitted manuscript.

Authors remain responsible for the originality and ethical integrity of their submissions.

8. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers are expected to report suspected plagiarism or inappropriate text reuse to the journal's editorial office.

Editors will assess allegations objectively and confidentially and will avoid making a decision solely on the basis of an automated similarity score.

Reviewers must not use, copy, distribute, or exploit unpublished manuscript material for their own purposes. Suspected appropriation of an author's ideas or data will be investigated in accordance with applicable publication-ethics procedures.

9. Fair and Confidential Investigation

All plagiarism allegations will be handled as confidentially and fairly as possible. The journal will consider evidence from similarity-detection software, published sources, manuscript versions, author explanations, and other relevant documentation.

The journal will not automatically regard an author as guilty solely because a similarity report has identified matching text. Editorial decisions will be based on an assessment of the evidence and the circumstances of the case.

10. Publication Ethics

SJAU-IJSS is committed to maintaining research and publication integrity and follows recognized principles of scholarly publishing ethics. The journal may consult relevant Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidance when handling plagiarism, duplicate publication, and related research-misconduct cases. COPE recommends that journals define plagiarism clearly, explain how it is detected, and establish procedures for investigating allegations.

Journal: Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University International Journal of Social Sciences (SJAU-IJSS)
Publisher: Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University
ISSN: 3105-3130