1. General Statement

Journal of Science, Technology and Applied Research is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical scholarly publication. The journal does not tolerate plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, redundant publication, data fabrication, data falsification, or any other form of academic misconduct.

All manuscripts submitted to the journal must be original works of the authors, must not have been previously published, and must not be under consideration for publication in any other journal, conference proceeding, book, or publication outlet.

2. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using another person’s words, ideas, data, results, images, tables, figures, methods, or intellectual property without proper acknowledgment, citation, or permission. Plagiarism may occur intentionally or unintentionally, but both forms are considered serious violations of publication ethics.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

1. Copying text from another source without proper citation.
2. Paraphrasing another author’s work without appropriate acknowledgment.
3. Using data, tables, figures, images, or research results from other sources without permission or citation.
4. Presenting another person’s ideas, concepts, methods, or findings as one’s own.
5. Reusing substantial parts of the author’s own previously published work without proper citation, known as self-plagiarism.
6. Submitting the same manuscript or substantially similar manuscripts to more than one journal at the same time.
7. Translating work from another language and presenting it as original without proper attribution.
8. Using artificial intelligence tools or automated writing tools to generate content, references, data, or analysis without disclosure or proper verification.

3. Similarity Check

All manuscripts submitted to Journal of Science, Technology and Applied Research will be screened using plagiarism detection software or other similarity-checking methods before being sent for peer review.

The similarity check is intended to detect textual overlap, improper citation, duplicate publication, and potential plagiarism. However, the editorial decision will not be based solely on the similarity percentage. The editor will also evaluate the nature, source, and context of the similarity.

The journal generally requires that the similarity index should not exceed 25%, excluding references, properly quoted text, author affiliations, standard methodological terms, and commonly used technical expressions. Manuscripts with a similarity index above this threshold may be returned to the authors for revision, rejected, or subjected to further editorial investigation.

4. Types of Plagiarism

The journal recognizes several types of plagiarism, including:

a. Direct Plagiarism

Direct plagiarism occurs when authors copy text, sentences, paragraphs, tables, figures, or other materials from another source without quotation marks, citation, or proper acknowledgment.

b. Mosaic Plagiarism

Mosaic plagiarism occurs when authors combine phrases, ideas, or sentences from different sources and present them as original work without proper citation.

c. Paraphrasing Plagiarism

Paraphrasing plagiarism occurs when authors rewrite another person’s ideas or findings using different words but fail to acknowledge the original source.

d. Self-Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism occurs when authors reuse their own previously published work, data, text, or results without proper citation or without informing the journal.

e. Duplicate or Redundant Publication

Duplicate or redundant publication occurs when authors submit or publish the same or substantially similar manuscript in more than one publication outlet.

f. Source-Based Plagiarism

Source-based plagiarism occurs when authors cite incorrect, incomplete, misleading, or fabricated sources, or when they cite secondary sources as if they had consulted the original source.

g. AI-Assisted Plagiarism

AI-assisted plagiarism occurs when authors use artificial intelligence tools to generate text, citations, data, images, or analysis and present them as original scholarly work without disclosure, verification, or accountability.

5. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts are original and free from plagiarism before submission. Authors must properly cite and acknowledge all sources used in the manuscript.

Authors are expected to:

1. Submit only original and unpublished manuscripts.
2. Ensure that all borrowed ideas, text, data, tables, figures, and images are properly cited.
3. Use quotation marks when directly quoting text from another source.
4. Avoid excessive reuse of their own previously published work.
5. Disclose any related manuscripts that are published, submitted, or under review elsewhere.
6. Obtain permission for copyrighted materials where necessary.
7. Ensure that all references are accurate, authentic, and relevant.
8. Take full responsibility for the integrity and originality of the submitted work.

6. Editorial Screening Procedure

After submission, each manuscript will undergo an initial editorial screening. This process includes checking the manuscript’s suitability with the journal’s focus and scope, compliance with author guidelines, academic quality, and originality.

If plagiarism or excessive similarity is detected during the initial screening, the editor may take one of the following actions:

1. Return the manuscript to the authors for correction and resubmission.
2. Request clarification from the authors.
3. Reject the manuscript before peer review.
4. Conduct further investigation if serious misconduct is suspected.

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening may proceed to the peer-review process.

7. Plagiarism Detected During Peer Review

If plagiarism is detected during the peer-review process, the editor will evaluate the case carefully based on the extent and seriousness of the overlap.

Possible editorial actions include:

1. Requesting minor or major revision.
2. Asking the authors to provide an explanation.
3. Rejecting the manuscript.
4. Notifying all authors involved.
5. Informing the authors’ institution if serious misconduct is identified.

Reviewers are encouraged to report any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unethical use of sources to the editor.

8. Plagiarism Detected After Publication

If plagiarism is discovered after an article has been published, the journal will conduct an investigation in accordance with publication ethics standards. The corresponding author will be contacted and given an opportunity to respond to the allegation.

Depending on the severity of the case, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

1. Publish a correction notice.
2. Publish an expression of concern.
3. Retract the article.
4. Notify the authors’ institution or relevant authority.
5. Notify other affected journals or publishers when necessary.
6. Remove or mark the article as retracted while maintaining the scholarly record.

Retraction may be applied when plagiarism is substantial, when the originality of the article is seriously compromised, or when the findings are unreliable due to unethical publication practices.

9. Consequences of Plagiarism

Authors who are found to have committed plagiarism or serious publication misconduct may be subject to the following consequences:

1. Immediate rejection of the manuscript.
2. Retraction of the published article.
3. Notification to all listed authors.
4. Notification to the authors’ institution, funder, or relevant authority.
5. Temporary or permanent prohibition from submitting manuscripts to the journal.
6. Public notice of correction, expression of concern, or retraction.
7. Other actions considered appropriate by the editorial board.

10. Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools

Authors may use artificial intelligence tools only to support language improvement, grammar checking, formatting, or technical assistance, provided that such use is disclosed where appropriate and does not compromise the originality, accuracy, or integrity of the manuscript.

Artificial intelligence tools must not be used to fabricate data, generate false references, manipulate findings, create misleading images, or produce substantial parts of a manuscript without human verification and accountability.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors because authorship requires responsibility, accountability, ethical judgment, and approval of the final version of the manuscript. The authors remain fully responsible for all content submitted to the journal.

11. Appeal and Clarification

Authors who disagree with a plagiarism-related decision may submit a written appeal to the editor-in-chief. The appeal must include a clear explanation, supporting evidence, and relevant documentation.

The editorial board will review the appeal objectively and may consult reviewers, ethics advisors, or external experts when necessary. The final decision of the editor-in-chief or editorial board is binding.

12. Commitment to Originality and Academic Integrity

Journal of Science, Technology and Applied Research is committed to protecting the integrity of the scholarly record and promoting responsible research publication. The journal expects all authors, editors, reviewers, and editorial board members to uphold the principles of honesty, transparency, accountability, and respect for intellectual property.

By submitting a manuscript to the journal, authors agree to comply with this plagiarism policy and all applicable publication ethics standards.