Plagiarism Policy

The Holistic Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Innovation (HJMRI)

 

  1. Policy Statement

The Holistic Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Innovation (HJMRI) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. Plagiarism in any form constitutes a serious violation of scholarly ethics and is strictly prohibited.

All manuscripts submitted to HJMRI must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.

 

  1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  1. Direct Plagiarism
    Copying text, data, figures, tables, or ideas from another source without proper citation.
  2. Paraphrasing Without Citation
    Rewriting someone else's work without acknowledging the original source.
  3. Self-Plagiarism (Redundant Publication)
    Reusing substantial portions of one's previously published work without proper citation or disclosure.
  4. Data Fabrication and Falsification
    Manipulating research data or presenting fabricated results.
  5. Improper Citation
    Misrepresenting sources, providing misleading references, or omitting required citations.
  6. Duplicate Submission
    Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.

 

  1. Similarity Index and Acceptable Threshold

HJMRI uses plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin and iThenticate to screen all submissions.

Acceptable Similarity Limits:

  • Overall Similarity Index: Up to 15–20% (excluding references, bibliography, properly quoted material, and standard methodological descriptions).
  • Single Source Similarity: Not more than 3–5% from any one source.

Editorial Interpretation:

  • ≤15% → Generally acceptable.
  • 15–25% → Requires revision and clarification.
  • >25% → Likely rejection unless justified.
  • >40% → Immediate rejection.

Similarity percentage alone does not automatically indicate plagiarism. The editorial board carefully evaluates context, citation accuracy, and the nature of matched content.

 

  1. Pre-Submission Responsibility of Authors

Authors are required to:

  • Ensure originality of their manuscript.
  • Use proper citation and referencing style.
  • Run plagiarism checks before submission.
  • Disclose any prior publication of related content.
  • Provide written permission for reused copyrighted materials.

 

  1. Plagiarism Screening Process

5.1 Initial Screening

All manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening before peer review.

  • Manuscripts exceeding acceptable limits may be:
    • Returned for correction, or
    • Rejected outright.

5.2 During Peer Review

Reviewers are encouraged to report suspected plagiarism.

5.3 Post-Acceptance or Post-Publication

If plagiarism is discovered after publication, corrective action will be taken immediately.

 

  1. Handling Suspected Plagiarism

Minor Plagiarism (Unintentional)

Examples:

  • Few uncited sentences.
  • Improper paraphrasing.

Action:

  • Manuscript returned for revision.
  • Author required to correct citations.
  • Re-evaluation before further processing.

Moderate Plagiarism

Examples:

  • Multiple uncited paragraphs.
  • High similarity without proper referencing.

Action:

  • Mandatory revision.
  • Possible temporary submission restriction.

Severe Plagiarism

Examples:

  • Large sections copied.
  • Data fabrication.
  • Duplicate publication.

Action:

  • Immediate rejection.
  • Publication retraction (if already published).
  • Author banned for 1–3 years or permanently.
  • Institution may be notified.

 

  1. Retraction Policy

If plagiarism is detected after publication:

  • The article will be formally retracted.
  • A retraction notice will be published.
  • The online version will be marked as “Retracted.”
  • Indexing services will be notified.

 

  1. Consequences of Plagiarism

Authors found guilty of plagiarism may face:

  • Immediate manuscript rejection.
  • Retraction of published article.
  • Temporary or permanent submission ban.
  • Notification to affiliated institution.
  • Reporting to indexing bodies if necessary.

 

  1. Role of Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers are expected to:

  • Maintain strict confidentiality.
  • Report suspected plagiarism.
  • Avoid misuse of unpublished data.
  • Ensure ethical review standards are followed.

 

  1. Appeal Process

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a formal written request to the Editor-in-Chief within 14 days.

  • Appeals are reviewed by an independent committee.
  • External experts may be consulted.
  • The final decision will be communicated in writing.

 

  1. Educational Commitment

HJMRI promotes awareness of academic integrity by:

  • Providing citation guidelines.
  • Sharing plagiarism prevention resources.
  • Encouraging responsible research practices.

 

  1. Compliance with International Standards

HJMRI adheres to international publication ethics guidelines, including:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) principles.
  • Best practices in scholarly publishing.
  • Ethical standards recognized by global indexing bodies.