Plagiarism Policy

1. Introduction

IJASCE is committed to publishing original research and upholding the highest standards of academic integrity. This policy defines how the journal identifies and handles plagiarism, including the use of similarity detection tools. It is aligned with COPE guidelines and international best practices for responsible publication.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to IJASCE and to all authors, regardless of discipline, country of origin, or type of submission. It addresses:

  • Textual plagiarism

  • Self-plagiarism (redundant publication)

  • Improper paraphrasing

  • Unattributed use of others' data, ideas, or structure

3. Policy Statement and Guidelines

IJASCE defines plagiarism as the presentation of another’s work, ideas, or expressions as one’s own without proper acknowledgment. This includes copying text, data, figures, or code, whether from published or unpublished sources.

3.1 Use of Turnitin

All manuscripts submitted to IJASCE are screened using Turnitin plagiarism detection software prior to peer review. The similarity report is evaluated by the editorial office to determine whether the manuscript meets ethical standards.

3.2 Similarity Threshold

  • Manuscripts with a similarity index above 20% (excluding references and commonly used phrases) will be rejected without review.

  • Manuscripts with a similarity index below or equal to 20% may proceed to peer review, provided the similarities are not clustered and do not involve unattributed copying.

  • Authors may be asked to revise and resubmit if borderline or problematic overlaps are detected.

3.3 Types of Unacceptable Practices

  • Verbatim copying without quotation or attribution

  • Paraphrasing without acknowledgment of the original source

  • Reusing large portions of one’s own previously published work without citation (self-plagiarism)

  • Translation plagiarism, where content from a non-English source is used without citation

3.4 Acceptable Overlap

Overlap is permitted when:

  • Properly cited quotations are used

  • Standard methodology descriptions are reused with attribution

  • Similarities are minor and non-substantive

4. Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that all content is original and properly cited, and must review their own Turnitin report before submission if possible.
Editors are responsible for interpreting similarity reports in context and taking consistent, fair action.
Reviewers should report any suspected plagiarism not detected in the initial screening.

5. Process for Handling Breaches

If plagiarism is confirmed before publication, actions may include:

  • Rejection of the manuscript

  • Notification to the corresponding author’s institution

  • Blacklisting of authors in severe or repeated cases

If plagiarism is discovered after publication:

  • A correction, expression of concern, or retraction may be issued

  • The incident will be documented and addressed transparently

Actions are taken in accordance with COPE flowcharts and retraction guidelines.

6. Related Policies and References

  • COPE Guidelines on Plagiarism

  • IJASCE’s Copyright and Authorship Policies

  • Turnitin Similarity Detection Tool

  • IJASCE’s Allegations of Misconduct Policy

7. Review and Updates

This policy was last reviewed in August 2025 and is reviewed annually or as best practices and detection technologies evolve.