8. Plagiarism Policy

Preface

The International Journal of Business and Social Dynamics (IJBSD) maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism and all forms of academic misconduct. This Plagiarism Policy defines what constitutes plagiarism, explains how it is detected and handled, and outlines the consequences for violations. This policy applies to all submissions and published content in IJBSD and is fully aligned with the ethical standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and Higher Education Commission (HEC) guidelines.

8.1 Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to:

  • All manuscripts submitted to IJBSD, including:
    • Original research articles
    • Review papers
    • Conceptual and theoretical papers
    • Case studies
    • Editorials
  • All authors (first author, corresponding author, and co-authors)
  • All stages of publication:
    • Pre-publication (submission and peer review)
    • Post-publication (after online or print publication)

8.2 Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting to IJBSD are fully responsible for maintaining originality and academic integrity. Authors must:

  • Submit only original work, free from plagiarism in whole or in part
  • Properly cite all sources, including:
    • Direct quotations
    • Paraphrased text
    • Data, tables, figures, and images
  • Disclose any prior publication of identical or substantially similar content
  • Obtain written permission for copyrighted material when required
  • Avoid self-plagiarism by clearly citing previously published work

Failure to comply may result in rejection, retraction, or sanctions.

8.3 Acceptable Similarity Thresholds

IJBSD uses Turnitin® plagiarism detection software to screen all manuscripts.

A manuscript will be rejected if it exceeds:

  • 19% < overall similarity index, and/or
  • 4% similarity from a single source

References, properly quoted material, and bibliographies are excluded where appropriate.

8.4 Detection and Screening Process

8.4.1 Pre-Publication Screening

  • All submissions are screened upon submission.
  • Editors evaluate similarity reports to determine the nature of overlap.
  • If concerns arise, the manuscript is placed on hold and the corresponding author is contacted.

8.4.2 Manual Review

  • Editors and reviewers may detect plagiarism during peer review.
  • All reported cases are investigated confidentially.

8.4.3 Post-Publication Discovery

  • If plagiarism is discovered after publication, IJBSD follows COPE guidelines for investigation and corrective action.

8.5 Handling Suspected Plagiarism

8.5.1 Initial Assessment

The Editor-in-Chief or an appointed ethics committee will:

  • Review similarity reports and highlighted content
  • Compare the manuscript with original sources
  • Assess severity and intent

8.5.2 Author Notification

  • Authors are formally notified and given an opportunity to respond.
  • Explanations, citations, or permission documents may be requested.

8.5.3 Investigation Outcomes

Possible actions include:

  • No action (minor, properly cited overlap)
  • Request for revision
  • Rejection before publication
  • Retraction after publication
  • Author sanctions for serious or repeated misconduct

8.6 Consequences of Plagiarism

8.6.1 Before Publication

  • Minor overlap → Revision required
  • Significant plagiarism → Rejection
  • Severe plagiarism → Rejection and possible blacklist

8.6.2 After Publication

  • Retraction notice issued and linked to the article
  • Article labeled “Retracted” in indexing services
  • Notification to author’s institution (if necessary)
  • Submission ban (3–5 years or permanent)

8.7 Self-Plagiarism Policy

Self-plagiarism (text recycling) is prohibited unless disclosed and justified.

  • Authors may not reuse substantial prior content without citation
  • Self-citations may not exceed five (5) per manuscript
  • Reused content must contribute new scholarly value

8.8 Best Practices to Avoid Plagiarism

Authors are encouraged to:

  • Use quotation marks for direct quotes
  • Paraphrase genuinely and cite original sources
  • Maintain accurate citation records
  • Avoid copying from previously published work
  • Use language-editing tools responsibly

8.9 Citation Integrity

Authors must:

  • Cite primary sources where possible
  • Avoid citation manipulation or excessive self-citation
  • Follow IJBSD’s prescribed citation style consistently

8.10 Ethical Use of AI Tools

IJBSD allows limited AI use only for language editing, subject to disclosure.

  • AI must not generate scholarly analysis or research content
  • Authors remain fully responsible for AI-assisted text
  • AI must not paraphrase or copy third-party research
  • Undisclosed misuse may result in rejection or retraction

8.11 COPE Compliance

IJBSD follows COPE flowcharts and best practices for:

  • Handling plagiarism during review
  • Managing post-publication misconduct
  • Issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern

8.12 Education and Author Support

IJBSD supports authors through:

  • Detailed author guidelines and templates
  • Editorial guidance on ethical writing
  • Workshops and academic integrity resources
  • Access to COPE and ethics documentation

8.13 Institutional Notification

In serious or repeated cases, IJBSD may notify:

  • Authors’ institutions
  • Research funders
  • Relevant ethics committees

8.14 Retraction and Correction Procedures

  • Retraction notices include title, authors, date, and reason
  • Retracted articles remain accessible but clearly labelled
  • Minor cases may result in corrections or errata

8.15 Policy Review and Updates

This policy is reviewed every two years or earlier if required due to:

  • Changes in ethical standards
  • Technological advancements (e.g., AI detection)
  • Editorial or author feedback

Updates are published on the IJBSD website and submission system.