Understanding Plagiarism

Plagiarism involves the unauthorized use and publication of another author's language, ideas, or expressions, falsely presenting them as original work. It includes blatant plagiarism, which is an obvious and direct copying of content from other sources, and self-plagiarism, where authors reuse their own material without proper citation. Duplicate publication refers to the same article being published in multiple journals simultaneously, with or without modification.

The Ethical Implications of Plagiarism

Engaging in plagiarism is unethical. Writing without introducing new, original ideas disrupts the balance between knowledge and understanding. Properly crediting sources through citations and acknowledgments not only respects the original authors but also enhances the value of their work.

Plagiarism occurs when someone intentionally copies another's work or fails to provide appropriate references.

Plagiarism Management Before Publishing

ScienceFrontier journals thoroughly evaluate any potential plagiarism during the publication process. If detected by an editorial board member, reviewer, or editor at any stage—before acceptance, during editing, or at the page proof stage—the author(s) will be notified. They will be asked to rewrite the content or cite the original sources. Articles with more than 25% plagiarized content may be rejected, and the author will be informed.

Timing of Plagiarism Checks

All manuscripts submitted for publication are checked for plagiarism immediately after submission and before the review process begins.

Handling Different Levels of Plagiarism

<5% Plagiarism: The manuscript is assigned an ID and returned to the author for content revision.

5-30% Plagiarism: The manuscript is not assigned an ID and is sent back to the author for content revision.

>30% Plagiarism: The manuscript is rejected without review. Authors are encouraged to revise and resubmit as a new submission.

Rejection of Manuscripts with Over 30% Plagiarism

Manuscripts with more than 30% plagiarism are often unlikely to be revised adequately. However, authors are welcome to make the necessary revisions and submit the manuscript anew.

Post-Publication Plagiarism Detection

If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the journal will investigate. Confirmed cases will lead to contacting the author's institution and funding agencies. The plagiarized paper will be marked on each page of the PDF, and depending on the severity, it may be formally retracted.

Ensuring Originality

By submitting a manuscript to the journals, authors confirm that it is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. Plagiarism, including the uncredited reuse of one's own previous work, is not tolerated. Manuscripts may be checked for originality using anti-plagiarism software.

Types of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes copying content from other sources, using portions of another author's work without citation, and reproducing figures, tables, or illustrations without acknowledgment. It also includes downloading and using exact text or images from the internet without proper citation.

Addressing Self-Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism involves reusing significant portions of one’s own previously published work without citation. However, reusing content from conference proceedings with explicit references is acceptable.

Unintentional Plagiarism

Authors might accidentally plagiarize if they do not understand the difference between quoting and paraphrasing or the correct way to cite sources. It is crucial for authors to educate themselves on proper citation practices.

Encouragement for Original Work

The AOJ does not condone any form of plagiarism. Authors are strongly advised to check their content for plagiarism before submission, using various online tools, though they may not be entirely reliable.