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Screening for Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy

The Innovative Horizons in Care and Community Journal (IHCCJ) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and publication ethics. All submitted manuscripts are subject to plagiarism screening before entering the peer-review process to ensure the originality of scholarly work.

IHCCJ follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and internationally recognized best practices in scholarly publishing.

1. Plagiarism Screening

All submitted manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening using reputable similarity detection software, such as Turnitin, iThenticate, or equivalent tools.

The similarity assessment is conducted by the Editorial Office prior to editorial evaluation and peer review.

The similarity report serves as a screening tool and does not, by itself, determine whether plagiarism has occurred. Editorial decisions are based on both the similarity score and the context of the overlapping text.

2. Acceptable Similarity Index

IHCCJ generally considers manuscripts with an overall similarity index of 20% or less to be acceptable for editorial assessment, provided that:

  • All overlapping text is appropriately cited and referenced.
  • Similarity originates primarily from references, properly quoted material, standard methodological descriptions, or commonly used scientific terminology.
  • No evidence of plagiarism or inappropriate text reuse is identified.

The Editorial Board reserves the right to evaluate each manuscript individually, regardless of the reported similarity percentage.

3. Forms of Plagiarism

IHCCJ considers the following practices to constitute publication misconduct:

  • Direct Plagiarism – Copying text, figures, tables, or ideas from another source without proper acknowledgment.
  • Paraphrasing Plagiarism – Rewriting another author's work without appropriate citation.
  • Self-Plagiarism (Text Recycling) – Reusing substantial portions of one's previously published work without proper citation or editorial disclosure.
  • Mosaic Plagiarism – Combining phrases, sentences, or ideas from multiple sources without adequate attribution.
  • Data Fabrication or Falsification – Inventing, manipulating, or altering research data, images, figures, or tables.
  • Duplicate or Redundant Publication – Submitting or publishing substantially similar manuscripts in more than one journal without appropriate disclosure or permission.

4. Editorial Actions

Editorial decisions regarding plagiarism are made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the extent, nature, and intent of the similarity.

Minor Similarity Issues

If the overlap is limited and does not constitute plagiarism, authors may be asked to revise the manuscript by improving citations, quotations, or paraphrasing before the manuscript proceeds to peer review.

Significant Similarity or Inappropriate Text Reuse

If substantial unattributed overlap or inappropriate reuse of previously published material is identified, the manuscript may be rejected. Authors may be invited to submit a substantially revised manuscript as a new submission after addressing all ethical concerns.

Serious Academic Misconduct

Manuscripts involving confirmed plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabricated data, falsified results, or other serious forms of publication misconduct will be rejected immediately.

In severe or repeated cases, IHCCJ reserves the right to:

  • Reject the manuscript without further review.
  • Suspend future submissions from the responsible author(s) for an appropriate period.
  • Notify the authors' affiliated institution(s), funding agencies, or other relevant authorities when necessary.

5. Plagiarism Detected After Publication

If plagiarism or other forms of publication misconduct are identified after publication, IHCCJ will investigate the matter in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Publish a Correction (Corrigendum).
  • Publish an Expression of Concern.
  • Retract the article.
  • Remove the article from the journal website where legally required.
  • Notify the authors' institution(s), funding agency(ies), or relevant stakeholders.

All post-publication actions will be conducted transparently and in accordance with internationally accepted publication ethics standards.

6. Ethical Commitment

IHCCJ is dedicated to promoting ethical research and responsible scholarly publishing. The journal expects all authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff to uphold the principles of honesty, transparency, accountability, and integrity throughout the publication process.

This policy is developed in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing, ensuring that all published articles meet internationally recognized standards of academic quality and research integrity.