Plagiarism Policy
Policy Statement
The International Journal of Environmental and Agriculture Research (IJOEAR) has a zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism. All manuscripts submitted to IJOEAR are screened for plagiarism using professional detection software. Plagiarism in any form—including verbatim copying, paraphrasing without attribution, or self-plagiarism—is considered a serious breach of publication ethics and will result in immediate rejection or retraction.
Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else's ideas, words, data, or creative work as one's own without proper attribution. This includes:
Verbatim Plagiarism
Copying text word-for-word from another source without quotation marks and proper citation.
Mosaic Plagiarism
Paraphrasing or rearranging phrases from a source without proper attribution (also known as patchwriting).
Data Plagiarism
Using someone else's research data, figures, tables, or results without permission and attribution.
Idea Plagiarism
Presenting someone else's unique research concept, methodology, or theoretical framework as original.
Self-Plagiarism
Reusing significant portions of one's own previously published work without proper citation and disclosure.
Translation Plagiarism
Translating text from another language source and presenting it as original without attribution.
Acceptable Similarity Thresholds
IJOEAR has established the following similarity thresholds for manuscript submissions:
≤20%
Maximum Overall Similarity
(including references)≤5%
Maximum Similarity
(excluding references)| Similarity Range | Action |
|---|---|
| 0-5% (excluding references) / 0-20% (including references) | Acceptable for further review if matches are not from critical sections (methodology, results, discussion) |
| 5-10% (excluding references) / 20-30% (including references) | Author requested to revise and resubmit with proper attribution; editorial review required before acceptance |
| >10% (excluding references) / >30% (including references) | Manuscript rejected; may be subject to author sanctions if intentional plagiarism suspected |
Note: These thresholds are guidelines. The Editor-in-Chief has discretion to reject manuscripts with lower similarity scores if matches involve critical sections (methodology, results, discussion) or if there is evidence of intentional plagiarism.
Plagiarism Detection Process
All manuscripts submitted to IJOEAR undergo the following plagiarism screening process:
Initial Screening
Upon submission, manuscript run through plagiarism detection software
Similarity Report
Report generated with similarity percentage and source matching
Editorial Review
Editor evaluates similarity report for concerning matches
Action Taken
Based on findings: proceed, request revision, or reject
Software Used: IJOEAR uses professional plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate, or equivalent) to screen all submissions. Authors are encouraged to pre-screen their manuscripts using similar tools before submission.
Types of Plagiarism & Severity Levels
| Plagiarism Type | Description | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Minor/Mild | Limited copying of phrases without citation; improper paraphrasing of a few sentences; missing references for common knowledge | Low - Warning; request for revision |
| Moderate | Copying paragraphs without citation; mosaic plagiarism; reuse of figures/tables without permission; substantial self-plagiarism | Medium - Rejection; author warning |
| Severe | Copying large sections of text; submitting entire paper from another source; data fabrication/falsification; multiple violations | High - Rejection; publication ban; institution notification |
Consequences of Plagiarism
IJOEAR takes plagiarism seriously. Consequences vary based on severity and intent:
| Plagiarism Severity | Action Before Publication | Action After Publication |
|---|---|---|
| Minor/Mild | Manuscript returned for revision with warning; resubmission allowed | Correction notice; author warning |
| Moderate | Immediate rejection; author(s) warned; 1-year publication ban | Retraction with notice; author(s) banned for 2 years |
| Severe | Immediate rejection; 3-year publication ban; institution notified | Retraction with notice; 5-year publication ban; institution notified; reported to COPE |
Additional Consequences
- Notification to the author's institutional ethics committee or department head
- Reporting to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) for serious cases
- Publication of plagiarism notice on the journal website
- Revocation of any reviewer or editorial board status
- Legal action in cases of copyright infringement
Self-Plagiarism Policy
Self-plagiarism (reusing one's own previously published work without proper citation) is also prohibited:
Permitted Reuse
- Small portions of text (e.g., methodology description) with clear self-citation
- Building upon previous work with substantial new content
- Conference proceedings expanded significantly (disclosure required)
- Preprint versions (disclosure required)
Prohibited Reuse
- Submitting previously published work as new
- Reusing large sections without substantial new contribution
- Data recycling without new analysis
- Text recycling without proper citation
Disclosure Required: Authors must disclose any prior publication of similar work (including preprints, conference proceedings, theses) at the time of submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Plagiarism?
For questions about plagiarism policy, similarity thresholds, or to report suspected plagiarism, please contact us.
+91-7665235235
Please include "PLAGIARISM QUERY" in the email subject line. For reporting suspected plagiarism, include article details and supporting evidence.