Plagiarism Policy
International Multidisciplinary Journal of Social Sciences and Management Horizons (IMJSMH)
1. Purpose
IMJSMH is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. This Plagiarism Policy outlines the journal's principles, procedures, and actions related to plagiarism.
2. Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the use of another person's ideas, words, data, images, or creative work without appropriate acknowledgment. This includes:
Direct Plagiarism
Word-for-word copying without quotation marks or citation
Self-Plagiarism
Reusing one's own previously published work without disclosure
Mosaic Plagiarism
Mixing copied phrases with original text without proper attribution
Paraphrasing Plagiarism
Rephrasing someone else's work without giving credit
Data/Image Plagiarism
Using data, figures, or images without proper acknowledgment
3. Scope
This policy applies to all submissions to IMJSMH, including research articles, review articles, case studies, short communications, technical notes, and book reviews.
4. Plagiarism Screening
All manuscripts submitted to IMJSMH are screened using industry-standard plagiarism-detection software to ensure originality and academic integrity.
Screening Tools Used:
- Turnitin
- iThenticate
- Plagiarism CheckerX
When Screening Occurs:
- Initial submission review
- After major revisions
- Before final publication
5. Acceptable Similarity Thresholds
Similarity Index Guidelines
Overall similarity should normally be below 15–20%. Excessive single-source similarity is not acceptable under any circumstances.
Acceptable
Manuscript proceeds to review
Caution
Requires editorial review
Unacceptable
Immediate rejection
6. Author Responsibilities
Authors are responsible for ensuring the integrity and originality of their work. This includes:
Ensure Originality
All submitted work must be original and not previously published elsewhere
Proper Citation
All sources, ideas, and data from other works must be properly cited and referenced
Disclosure of Overlaps
Any overlap with previously published work must be disclosed and properly cited
Permission for Reused Material
Obtain necessary permissions for reusing copyrighted material, figures, or data
7. Editorial Actions
The editorial team will take appropriate action based on the severity of plagiarism detected:
Minor Overlap (Below 20% with proper citations)
Action: Revision required. Authors will be asked to revise the manuscript to reduce similarity and improve citation practices.
Moderate Plagiarism (20-40% or significant uncited sections)
Action: Immediate rejection of the manuscript. Authors may resubmit after substantial revision and proper attribution.
Severe Plagiarism (Above 40% or deliberate copying)
- Immediate rejection of the manuscript
- Notification to authors' institutions and affiliated organizations
- Possible ban from future submissions (1-5 years or permanent)
- Reporting to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) if necessary
Post-Publication Plagiarism
Action: Formal retraction of the article with public notice. The retraction will be permanently linked to the original article and indexed in all databases.
8. Appeals
Authors may appeal editorial decisions related to plagiarism by submitting a written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief within 30 days of the decision.
Appeal Process:
- Submit written appeal with supporting evidence
- Editorial Board reviews the appeal independently
- Decision communicated within 2-3 weeks
- Editorial Board decisions are final and binding
9. Ethical Standards
IMJSMH follows international ethical guidelines and best practices in scholarly publishing:
International Guidelines:
- Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
- International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)
- World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)
- Council of Science Editors (CSE)
Our Commitment:
- Transparent and fair review processes
- Consistent application of policies
- Protection of academic integrity
- Continuous improvement of ethical standards
10. Policy Review
This plagiarism policy is periodically reviewed and updated to reflect current best practices and international standards. The policy was last updated in January 2026 and will be reviewed annually.
Questions About Our Plagiarism Policy?
If you have questions or concerns about plagiarism or our policy, please contact our editorial team