Plagiarism Policy

The International Journal of Multi Studies (IJMS) considers originality and proper attribution essential to responsible scholarly publishing. Authors are expected to ensure that submitted manuscripts are original and that words, ideas, data, figures, tables, and other material obtained from other sources are appropriately acknowledged.

 

Originality and Proper Attribution

Manuscripts submitted to IJMS should not present material originating from another source as the author's own. Authors must provide appropriate citations and acknowledgments for material used from published or publicly available sources.

Plagiarism may include, but is not limited to:

• Copying or closely reproducing text without appropriate attribution
• Presenting another person's ideas, findings, or intellectual work as one's own
• Using figures, tables, data, images, or other third-party material without appropriate acknowledgment or permission where required
• Reusing substantial material from an author's own previously published work without appropriate acknowledgment where this creates a misleading impression of originality

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all sources are properly acknowledged and that the manuscript does not contain unattributed or misleadingly presented material.

 

Similarity Screening

IJMS may screen submitted manuscripts using appropriate similarity-detection or plagiarism-screening tools as part of the editorial assessment process.

A similarity result does not by itself establish plagiarism. Identified matches may arise from legitimate quotations, references, commonly used terminology, standard methodology, or other acceptable sources. The editorial team may consider the nature, extent, context, and source of identified similarities before determining whether further action is appropriate.

IJMS does not treat a particular similarity percentage as an automatic determination of plagiarism.

 

Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Authors must not submit the same or substantially similar manuscript simultaneously to multiple journals.

Previously published work or substantial portions of previously published material must be appropriately disclosed and cited. Authors should avoid redundant publication or text recycling that could create a misleading impression of new or original work.

Where a manuscript is based on or substantially overlaps with a previously published study, authors should clearly explain the relationship between the works.

 

Preprints and Previously Shared Material

Prior posting of a manuscript as a preprint does not automatically constitute plagiarism. Authors should disclose relevant preprint information during submission and appropriately identify and cite the preprint where applicable.

Authors remain responsible for ensuring that submitted manuscripts meet IJMS requirements concerning originality, attribution, copyright, and publication history.

 

Third-Party Material

Authors are responsible for obtaining appropriate permission where required for the use or reproduction of copyrighted figures, tables, images, substantial text, or other third-party material.

Such material must be properly attributed, and applicable licensing or permission requirements must be followed.

 

Plagiarism Identified During Review

If substantial unattributed material or suspected plagiarism is identified before publication, IJMS may request an explanation or supporting information from the authors.

Depending on the circumstances and available evidence, the manuscript may require clarification, may be rejected, or may be referred for further editorial assessment.

 

Plagiarism Identified After Publication

If credible concerns regarding plagiarism or substantial unattributed material arise after publication, IJMS may investigate the matter and take appropriate action based on the available evidence.

Possible editorial actions may include correction, withdrawal where applicable, retraction, or another appropriate editorial measure. Such actions will be considered in accordance with the relevant IJMS policies and procedures.

 

Author Responsibility

Authors are responsible for checking their manuscripts for originality, accurate attribution, and appropriate citation before submission.

Submitting a manuscript to IJMS indicates that the authors have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the submitted work does not contain plagiarism, improper attribution, or undisclosed redundant publication.

 

This policy is informed by relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), where applicable.

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)