Plagiarism and Publication Integrity Policy

Social Sciences Journal (SSJ)  |  e-ISSN 3047-7646

1. Definitions and Scope

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's words, ideas, arguments, data, images, creative expression, or other intellectual contribution without appropriate acknowledgement, in a manner that may lead readers to believe that the material is original to the author.

2. Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring that the submission complies with the following requirements:

• The manuscript is original, has not been formally published in substantially the same form, and is not being considered simultaneously by another journal.
• All quotations, paraphrases, ideas, data, tables, figures, instruments, software, and third-party materials are accurately cited and acknowledged.
• Quoted wording is identified using quotation marks, block quotation, or another convention appropriate to the journal's reference style.
• Permissions or licences are obtained when required by copyright, database, image, instrument, or other applicable rights.
• Any related manuscript, preprint, thesis, report, conference paper, dataset, or prior publication is disclosed to the editor at submission.
• All authors approve the submission and cooperate with reasonable editorial requests concerning originality or publication integrity.

Responsibility is assessed according to each author's role, knowledge, contribution, and response. The journal does not automatically impose an identical sanction on every co-author without considering the facts of the case.

3. Similarity Screening and Editorial Assessment

SSJ may use Turnitin and other approved similarity-detection services. Screening may occur at initial submission, after revision, before publication, or when a concern is raised. Editors may also examine cited sources, databases, previous publications, images, data, and related submissions.

Editorial assessment considers:

• whether the source is acknowledged and cited accurately;
• whether copied wording is clearly presented as a quotation;
• the type, location, extent, and pattern of overlap;
• whether ideas, results, data, figures, or conclusions have been appropriated;
• whether the overlap misrepresents novelty or constitutes redundant publication;
• applicable copyright or licence conditions; and
• the author's explanation and supporting documentation.

4. Assessment Levels and Possible Responses

The following framework guides editorial judgment and is not an automatic penalty schedule. The Editor-in-Chief may adjust the response after reviewing the complete evidence, author explanation, article stage, reliability of the work, prior conduct, and relevant independent advice.

5. Procedure for a Submitted Manuscript

Reviewers and complainants should report concerns confidentially to the editor and should not contact authors or institutions independently unless required by law or authorized under an established investigation.

6. Text Recycling and Prior Dissemination

6.1 Reuse of an Author's Own Material

Reuse of previously published material must be transparent. Limited repetition of methodological or standard descriptive language may sometimes be acceptable when accurate reformulation is impracticable, provided that the source is cited, readers are not misled about novelty, and copyright or licence conditions are satisfied. Reuse of results, discussion, conclusions, tables, or figures requires particular scrutiny.

6.2 Conference Papers, Theses, Reports, and Repositories

Authors must disclose any prior version. A manuscript developed from a conference paper, thesis, institutional report, or repository version must identify and cite that source, explain the new contribution, and obtain permission where required. The editor determines whether sufficient original scholarly development is present.

6.3 Preprints

Prior posting on a recognized preprint server is not automatically treated as duplicate publication, but it must be disclosed and comply with journal copyright and preprint policies. Authors should update the preprint record with the final citation and DOI where the platform permits.

6.4 Translations and Secondary Publication

A translated or secondary publication may be considered only when fully disclosed, justified for a distinct readership, approved by relevant editors and rights holders, and clearly identifies and cites the original publication. It must not be presented as a new original article.

7. Third-Party Material and Copyright

There is no universal rule that a particular number of sentences, words, or images is automatically permissible. Copyright exceptions and quotation practices vary by jurisdiction, licence, purpose, and material type. Authors must:

• cite the original source accurately and distinguish quotations from their own wording;
• obtain written permission when required for figures, tables, images, instruments, substantial extracts, or other protected material;
• provide evidence of permission or licence upon editorial request;
• comply with Creative Commons and other licence attribution requirements; and
• avoid modifying or translating protected material in a way that conceals its origin.

8. Post-Publication Actions

Concerns raised after publication are assessed using confidentiality, evidence, impartiality, author response, and editorial independence. The purpose is to maintain an accurate scholarly record, not to punish authors.

Retraction Notices and Preservation of the Record

A retracted article normally remains accessible and is clearly identified as retracted. The notice is freely accessible, linked in both directions with the article, states who is retracting the article and why, distinguishes honest error from misconduct where established, avoids defamatory or speculative wording, and retains the bibliographic record and DOI. Relevant indexing and preservation services are notified where applicable.

9. Fairness, Sanctions, and Institutional Notification

Any restriction or sanction is imposed only after an evidence-based assessment and is proportionate to the seriousness, intent, repetition, impact, and reliability concerns involved. Possible measures include a formal warning, mandatory correction, rejection, a temporary submission restriction for a defined period, institutional notification, correction, expression of concern, or retraction.

• The journal does not impose automatic one-year, three-year, or permanent bans solely from a similarity percentage or unverified allegation.
• Authors are normally given sufficient information about the concern and an opportunity to respond.
• Individuals directly involved in the allegation should not be the sole decision-makers.
• The journal may request an investigation by the relevant institution while retaining responsibility for the published record.
• Institutions or other journals are contacted only when the concern is sufficiently credible and material, with appropriate confidentiality and documentation.

10. Withdrawal, Complaints, and Appeals

10.1 Withdrawal Is Different from Retraction

Withdrawal concerns an unpublished manuscript in the editorial workflow; retraction concerns a published article and the scholarly record. Withdrawal is governed by the journal's separate Manuscript Withdrawal Policy. No withdrawal fee or currency-specific charge is established by this plagiarism policy. Withdrawal does not prevent completion of an integrity assessment or communication of a substantiated concern to an appropriate institution or journal.

10.2 Complaints and Appeals

An author or complainant may request reconsideration by identifying a material procedural error, unmanaged conflict of interest, or relevant evidence that was not previously considered. Disagreement with a reasoned editorial judgment alone is insufficient. Review should be conducted by a person not solely responsible for the original contested decision whenever practicable.

11. Confidential Records and Policy Consistency

The Editor-in-Chief and authorized editorial office—not the layout editor alone—maintain confidential records of integrity concerns, correspondence, evidence, decisions, appeals, and active submission restrictions. Access is limited to persons who require the information for legitimate editorial, legal, or institutional purposes and is managed under the journal's Privacy Statement.

When this page conflicts with a specific correction, retraction, withdrawal, copyright, appeal, or publication-ethics policy, the more specific and most recently approved policy applies. Material policy changes should be dated, approved by journal management, and published transparently.

12. Report a Publication-Integrity Concern

A concern should identify the manuscript title and OJS submission number or the published article title and DOI, explain the issue clearly, and include supporting sources or evidence. Submissions should be made through the journal's official contact channel. Good-faith concerns are handled without retaliation.