Plagiarism Policy

The Study of Religion and History is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. The journal has a strict plagiarism policy designed to prevent any form of academic misconduct, including plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and improper citation practices.

Key Features of the Plagiarism Policy:

1. Definition of Plagiarism:

   • Plagiarism is defined as the act of using someone else’s work, ideas, or words without proper attribution, representing them as one’s own. This includes but is not limited to:

     • Copying and pasting text from other sources without citation.

     • Paraphrasing someone’s ideas without giving credit.

     • Using charts, figures, or data from another author’s work without proper acknowledgment.

     • Submitting previously published work without disclosure (self-plagiarism).

2. Pre-Submission Screening:

   • All submitted manuscripts undergo a plagiarism check using reliable plagiarism detection software, such as Turnitin or iThenticate. The software compares the manuscript against a vast database of scholarly publications, articles, books, and internet sources.

   • Submissions found to contain significant similarities with existing published work will be flagged for further investigation by the editorial team.

3. Post-Submission and Review Process:

   • During the review process, reviewers are also instructed to be vigilant for any signs of plagiarism. If plagiarism is suspected in a submitted manuscript, the reviewers will inform the editorial team, and the case will be reviewed further.

   • If plagiarism is identified after a manuscript has been accepted or published, the editorial team will take corrective actions, which may include retraction or withdrawal of the article.

4. Types of Plagiarism:

   • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text, data, or images verbatim from another source without proper citation.

   • Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting someone else’s ideas or research findings without attribution.

   • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing substantial portions of one’s own previously published work in a new submission without acknowledgment.

   • Mosaic Plagiarism: Incorporating phrases or ideas from other sources without proper citation, while changing some words or rearranging sentences.

5. Consequences of Plagiarism:

   • Initial Warning: If plagiarism is identified at an early stage (before acceptance), authors may be asked to revise their manuscript and properly attribute sources. The article may be rejected if the issues are not adequately addressed.

   • Rejection of Manuscript: If plagiarism is found to be extensive or egregious, the manuscript will be rejected outright, and the author may be prohibited from submitting future work to the journal.

   • Retraction: If plagiarism is identified after the article has been published, the article may be retracted, and the author will be informed of the retraction. A public notice of the retraction may also be issued.

   • Reporting to Institutions: In cases of serious academic misconduct, the journal may report the issue to the author’s institution or other relevant bodies for further action.

6. Author Responsibility:

   • Authors are required to ensure that all references, quotes, figures, and ideas taken from other sources are properly cited according to the journal’s citation style (typically APA).

   • Authors must disclose any previously published material or ongoing work that is related to the manuscript being submitted. This is particularly important when submitting work that draws upon one’s own previous publications to avoid self-plagiarism.

7. Revisions After Plagiarism Detection:

   • If plagiarism is detected after submission, the editorial team will contact the author to request revisions. The author will be given a chance to revise the manuscript and properly attribute any borrowed content.

   • In cases where plagiarism is not addressed adequately, the article will be rejected, and the manuscript will not proceed to the peer review stage.

8. Transparency and Integrity:

   • The journal adheres to the ethical guidelines set by the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) regarding plagiarism and academic misconduct.

   • The editorial team ensures that all cases of plagiarism are handled with fairness and transparency. Authors will be informed of any issues identified, and they will be given the opportunity to respond or revise the manuscript accordingly.

9. Educational Resources for Authors:

   • The journal provides educational materials and guidance for authors on how to properly cite sources, avoid plagiarism, and uphold academic integrity. These resources are made available on the journal’s website or upon request.