Plagiarism Policy

1. Definition of Plagiarism

What Constitutes Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is defined as the act of presenting another person's work, ideas, or intellectual property as one's own without proper acknowledgment, citation, or permission.

Direct Plagiarism

• Copying text verbatim without quotation marks
• Reproducing others' engineering research without citation
• Submitting others' research as own
• Translating others' work without attribution

Indirect Plagiarism

• Paraphrasing without proper citation
• Reusing one's own published work without citation
• Mosaic plagiarism (combining sources without citation)
• Inadequate or misleading citations

2. Types of Plagiarism

Categories of Plagiarism

Complete Plagiarism

Submitting an entire work by another author as one's own.

Partial Plagiarism

Copying significant portions from one or multiple sources.

Self-Plagiarism

Reusing one's own previously published work without citation.

Mosaic Plagiarism

Combining phrases from multiple sources without proper citation.

Accidental Plagiarism

Unintentional failure to cite sources properly.

Source Plagiarism

Citing incorrect or non-existent sources.

3. Detection Methods

Multi-Layer Detection System

IJOER employs multiple software tools and manual checks to detect plagiarism at various stages.

Software Tools Used

• iThenticate: Primary detection software for academic manuscripts
• Turnitin: Secondary verification tool
• Manual Verification: Editorial team review
• Cross-reference Checks: Against published engineering literature

Detection Stages

• Initial Submission: Automatic screening
• Pre-review: Detailed analysis
• During Review: Reviewers may identify issues
• Pre-publication: Final verification
• Post-publication: Continuous monitoring

4. Acceptable Similarity Limits

Similarity Index Guidelines

IJOER uses the following similarity index guidelines for manuscript evaluation:

≤15%

Excellent

Manuscript proceeds to review

16-19%

Review Required

Editorial assessment needed

≥20%

Unacceptable

Manuscript rejected

Note: Similarity index excludes references and common engineering terminology. The 20% limit applies to similarity excluding references; with references included, the limit is 25%.

Detailed Breakdown

Similarity Range	Action	Explanation
0-15%	Accept for Review	Manuscript proceeds to peer review process without delay
16-19%	Editorial Assessment	Editor examines similarity report; may request revision before review
20% and above	Immediate Rejection	Manuscript rejected without review; author may revise and resubmit

5. Screening Process

Plagiarism Screening Workflow

Step 1: Initial Screening

All manuscripts undergo automated screening within 24 hours of submission using iThenticate software.

Step 2: Report Analysis

Editorial team analyzes similarity report, checking for matching sources and patterns.

Step 3: Content Examination

Suspected passages are manually examined for proper citation and context.

Step 4: Decision

Based on analysis, manuscript is either accepted for review or returned/rejected.

Step 5: Documentation

All screening results and decisions are documented in the manuscript record.

6. Consequences of Plagiarism

Strict Penalties Applied

IJOER follows COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines for dealing with plagiarism cases.

Before Publication

• Immediate rejection of manuscript
• Notification to all authors
• Blacklisting of authors for 2 years
• Notification to authors' institutions
• Retraction of related submissions

After Publication

• Immediate retraction of article
• Publication of retraction notice
• Notification to indexing databases
• Legal action if copyright infringement
• Permanent blacklisting of authors

Due Process

Authors accused of plagiarism are given opportunity to respond with evidence before final decision. All cases are handled confidentially and professionally.

7. Prevention Guidelines for Authors

How to Avoid Plagiarism

Proper Citation Practices

• Cite all sources used in engineering research
• Use quotation marks for direct quotes
• Paraphrase properly with citation
• Follow IEEE/Vancouver citation style
• Include DOI or stable URLs

Writing Best Practices

• Start writing early to avoid last-minute copying
• Take detailed notes with source information
• Use reference management software
• Write in your own words from the beginning
• Review and edit thoroughly

Self-Check Before Submission

Authors are strongly encouraged to check their manuscripts using plagiarism detection software before submission. Keep similarity report for reference if requested.

8. Self-Check Tools & Resources

Recommended Resources

iThenticate

Industry standard for academic institutions

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Grammarly Premium

Grammar check with plagiarism detection

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COPE Guidelines

Publication ethics resources

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