Plagiarism Policy

The Journal of Integrated Social Sciences and Wellbeing (JISSAW) maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards academic dishonesty. We are committed to upholding the integrity of the scholarly record in accordance with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Similarity Index Standard

All submitted manuscripts are screened for originality using Turnitin.

  • Maximum Acceptable Similarity: The total similarity index must be below 19%.
  • Single Source Limit: Similarity from any single source must not exceed 5%.
  • AI Detection: As per our GenAI policy, AI-generated content must not exceed 19%.
  • Action: Submissions exceeding these thresholds will be immediately returned for revision or rejected without review.

2. Definition of Plagiarism

JISSAW defines plagiarism as the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit. This includes:

  • Verbatim Copying: Reproducing text, data, or survey results from another source without quotation marks or attribution.
    • Example: Copying a paragraph on "social stratification theory" without citing the original theorist.
  • Improper Paraphrasing: Changing a few words in a sentence while retaining the original structure and idea without citation.
  • Data Plagiarism: Using datasets, statistical models, or infographics (e.g., public health charts) created by others without permission or acknowledgment.
  • Self-Plagiarism (Text-Recycling): Reusing significant portions of one’s own previously published work without disclosure or proper citation.

3. Detection and Investigation

JISSAW follows the COPE Flowcharts for investigating allegations of misconduct.

  1. Initial Screening: Every manuscript is checked via Turnitin upon submission.
  2. Reporting: Allegations of plagiarism can be reported to the Editorial Office with supporting evidence (e.g., side-by-side comparison).
  3. Investigation: The Editor-in-Chief reviews the evidence. If misconduct is suspected, the author is given an opportunity to respond.

4. Consequences and Penalties

Penalties are applied based on the severity of the offense:

  • Minor Offense (Poor Citation): The manuscript is returned to the author for correction and proper attribution.
  • Major Offense (Deliberate Plagiarism >19%):
    • Immediate rejection of the manuscript.
    • Formal notification to the author’s institution (University/Department).
    • Ban on future submissions to JISSAW for a period of 1–3 years.
  • Post-Publication Discovery: If plagiarism is proven after publication, the article will be formally Retracted in line with COPE guidelines.

5. Appeals

Authors may appeal a plagiarism decision by submitting a formal rebuttal to the Editor-in-Chief within 30 days. The appeal must include a detailed explanation and evidence (e.g., proof of original data collection) to contest the Turnitin report. Appeals are reviewed by an independent member of the Editorial Board.