Plagiarism Policy

The Social and Management Sciences Research Journal (SMSRJ) upholds the highest standards of academic integrity. We are committed to preventing plagiarism in all forms and ensuring that the research published in the journal is original, properly cited, and ethically sound. Our plagiarism policy outlines the procedures for handling instances of plagiarism and the consequences for authors found to have violated these standards.

1. Definition of Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is defined as the use of someone else's work, ideas, data, or words without proper acknowledgment or permission, with the intention of presenting them as one’s own. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying text from other sources without citation.

• Reusing large portions of previously published work without attribution.

• Presenting someone else’s research findings as one’s own.

• Self-plagiarism, where authors recycle their own previously published work without proper acknowledgment.

2. Prevention of Plagiarism:
SMSRJ takes proactive steps to prevent plagiarism by:

• Author Responsibility: Authors are expected to ensure that their submitted manuscript is free from plagiarism and is properly referenced according to the journal’s citation guidelines.

• Originality of Content: All submitted manuscripts must be original and not under consideration by other journals or publishers.

• Proper Citation and Acknowledgment: Authors must properly cite any previous works, data, or figures used in their manuscript. This includes acknowledging all sources, whether primary or secondary.

3. Detection of Plagiarism:
To detect instances of plagiarism, SMSRJ uses advanced plagiarism detection software. The system checks submitted manuscripts against a vast database of academic papers, articles, books, and other publicly available sources to identify similarities.

• Plagiarism Check: All manuscripts are screened for plagiarism before they are sent for peer review. If plagiarism is detected, the manuscript will not proceed to the next stage and will be returned to the author for revision.

4. Handling Plagiarism:
If plagiarism is detected at any stage of the publication process, SMSRJ will take the following actions:

• Minor Plagiarism (Less than 15% Similarity): If the similarity is low and does not significantly affect the content or originality, the author will be asked to revise the manuscript, provide proper citations, and resubmit the work.

• Moderate Plagiarism (15%-40% Similarity): If significant portions of the manuscript are plagiarized or improperly cited, the manuscript will be rejected, and the author will be asked to revise and resubmit with proper citations.

• Severe Plagiarism (Above 40% Similarity): Manuscripts with excessive plagiarism will be immediately rejected. Authors found to have committed serious plagiarism may be banned from submitting future work to SMSRJ, and a formal notification may be sent to their affiliated institution or organization.

5. Self-Plagiarism:
Self-plagiarism occurs when an author reuses their own previously published work without proper citation. SMSRJ strictly prohibits self-plagiarism and requires authors to disclose any previous publication or submissions that overlap with the current manuscript. Authors must provide clear references to any previously published work.

6. Consequences of Plagiarism:
The consequences of plagiarism can include, but are not limited to:

• Rejection of Manuscript: The manuscript will be rejected if significant plagiarism is detected at any stage of the review process.

• Author Sanctions: Authors found guilty of plagiarism may face sanctions, including a ban on future submissions to SMSRJ.

• Institutional Notification: In severe cases, the author’s affiliated institution may be notified regarding the breach of academic integrity.

• Retraction of Published Work: If plagiarism is discovered in an already-published article, the paper may be retracted, and a formal retraction notice will be issued on the journal's website.

7. Appeal Process:
If an author believes the plagiarism allegations are unfounded, they may appeal the decision. The appeal should be submitted in writing to the editor-in-chief, who will review the case and may consult an independent third-party reviewer. The final decision on the appeal rests with the editorial board.

8. Ethical Standards:
SMSRJ adheres to international standards for ethical publishing and academic integrity. All authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to follow these standards and contribute to maintaining the integrity of academic research.

9. Education and Awareness:
SMSRJ encourages authors to be aware of plagiarism and to seek guidance on proper citation practices. The journal provides educational resources to help authors understand the importance of originality in academic writing and how to avoid plagiarism.