Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy

Lontara: Journal of Learning, Teaching, and Research is committed to maintaining originality, academic integrity, and ethical responsibility in scholarly publishing. All submitted manuscripts must represent the authors’ own work and must properly acknowledge the ideas, words, data, images, instruments, and findings of other sources.

The journal uses Turnitin to support plagiarism and similarity screening. Similarity reports are evaluated by the editorial team before peer review and may be checked again after revision or before publication.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when an author uses another person’s words, ideas, arguments, data, images, tables, figures, instruments, methods, or findings without appropriate acknowledgment.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

• copying text from another source without quotation marks and proper citation;

• presenting another person’s ideas or interpretations as original work;

• reproducing tables, figures, images, questionnaires, scales, or other materials without acknowledgment or permission;

• translating material from another language without citing the original source;

• paraphrasing too closely to the original wording without proper attribution;

• using unpublished work, student assignments, theses, reports, or online materials without acknowledgment;

• submitting work written substantially by another person without disclosure;

• fabricating, altering, or misrepresenting references; and

• attempting to conceal copied material through superficial word changes or automated paraphrasing.

2. Similarity Screening

All manuscripts may be screened using Turnitin before being sent for external peer review.

The journal generally requires a similarity score of no more than 20%, after excluding the reference list and properly presented direct quotations.

A manuscript with a similarity score above 20% may be returned to the authors for revision before further editorial consideration.

The journal encourages authors to achieve a similarity score of 15% or lower before final publication.

The similarity score is not the sole basis for an editorial decision. The editorial team examines:

• the source of the similarity;

• the amount of text taken from each source;

• whether the source has been properly cited;

• whether quotation marks have been used appropriately;

• whether the similarity appears in the method, literature review, results, or discussion;

• whether there is inappropriate text recycling; and

• whether the manuscript contains deliberate plagiarism or academic misconduct.

A manuscript may be rejected even when the overall similarity score is below 20% if the copied material is substantial, unattributed, misleading, or concentrated in an important part of the article.

3. Exclusions from Similarity Calculation

The following elements may be excluded when reviewing the similarity report:

• the reference list;

• properly cited direct quotations;

• standard institutional names;

• commonly used technical terms;

• names of established theories, instruments, methods, or statistical tests;

• standard ethical and funding statements; and

• unavoidable wording in established research procedures.

Exclusion from the similarity calculation does not remove the requirement to cite the original source when citation is academically necessary.

4. Similarity from a Single Source

Authors should avoid excessive similarity with any single source.

As a general editorial guideline, similarity from one source should not normally exceed 3%, except where the overlap consists of properly cited quotations, standard terminology, names of instruments, or unavoidable methodological expressions.

The editorial team will assess such similarity contextually rather than applying the percentage automatically.

5. Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling

Authors must not reuse substantial portions of their previously published work without appropriate citation and transparent disclosure.

Self-plagiarism or inappropriate text recycling may include:

• copying substantial passages from a previous article;

• republishing the same data or findings as if they were new;

• dividing one study into multiple overlapping manuscripts without justification;

• reusing tables, figures, or analysis without citation; and

• submitting a manuscript that substantially duplicates a thesis, report, conference paper, or previous publication without disclosure.

Limited reuse of methodological wording may be acceptable when the same method has been used and alternative wording would reduce accuracy. However, the earlier publication must be cited when relevant, and the reused material must not create a misleading impression of originality.

6. Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Authors must not submit the same or substantially similar manuscript to more than one journal at the same time.

Authors must disclose any related publication, conference paper, preprint, thesis, dissertation, institutional report, or manuscript that overlaps with the submitted work.

A manuscript may be considered redundant when it substantially repeats previously published data, analysis, arguments, or conclusions without clear disclosure and justification.

7. Translation Plagiarism

Translating material from another language does not make it original.

Authors must cite the original source when translating or adapting:

• text;

• arguments;

• definitions;

• instruments;

• tables;

• figures;

• interview excerpts;

• research findings; or

• theoretical explanations.

Unattributed translation is treated as plagiarism.

8. Artificial Intelligence and Plagiarism

Authors remain fully responsible for all content produced with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence tools must not be used to:

• disguise copied material;

• produce fabricated references;

• create false quotations;

• invent data or participants;

• reproduce copyrighted content without attribution;

• generate misleading paraphrases; or

• conceal duplicate publication.

Substantive use of generative artificial intelligence must be disclosed in accordance with the journal’s Generative AI Policy.

Content produced by artificial intelligence must be carefully checked for accuracy, originality, citation quality, and potential plagiarism.

9. Author Responsibilities

Before submission, authors must:

• ensure that the manuscript is original;

• check the manuscript for plagiarism and inappropriate similarity;

• cite all sources accurately;

• use quotation marks for direct quotations;

• obtain permission for copyrighted materials when required;

• disclose related publications or overlapping manuscripts;

• verify all references;

• avoid excessive text recycling; and

• ensure that all co-authors understand and approve the submitted work.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all authors comply with this policy.

10. Editorial Actions Before Peer Review

When plagiarism or excessive similarity is identified before peer review, the editorial team may:

• return the manuscript for technical correction;

• request paraphrasing and improved citation;

• ask for clarification regarding overlapping publications;

• require the removal or proper attribution of copied material;

• request supporting documentation; or

• reject the manuscript when the violation is serious.

A manuscript may be rejected immediately when it contains extensive plagiarism, deliberate concealment, fabricated references, duplicate publication, or substantial misuse of another person’s work.

11. Editorial Actions During or After Peer Review

If plagiarism is identified during peer review, the editor may suspend the review process and investigate the concern.

The journal may:

• request an explanation from the authors;

• require major revision;

• obtain additional similarity reports;

• consult reviewers or editorial board members;

• contact the authors’ institution when serious misconduct is suspected; or

• reject the manuscript.

A revised manuscript may be screened again before acceptance.

12. Plagiarism Identified After Publication

If plagiarism is identified after publication, the journal will evaluate the seriousness and extent of the violation.

Possible actions include:

• publishing a correction;

• publishing an Expression of Concern;

• retracting the article;

• removing unlawfully reproduced material;

• notifying the authors’ institution or funder; and

• restricting future submissions from responsible authors in serious cases.

The original article may remain accessible with a clear notice explaining its status, unless removal is required for legal, privacy, or safety reasons.

13. Minor and Major Violations

Minor plagiarism may include limited unattributed wording that does not substantially affect the originality, findings, or conclusions of the manuscript.

Minor cases may be resolved through correction, citation improvement, or rewriting.

Major plagiarism may include:

• copying substantial sections of another work;

• presenting another person’s findings as original;

• using another researcher’s data without permission or acknowledgment;

• fabricating references to conceal copied material;

• duplicating a previously published article;

• copying central arguments, analysis, or conclusions; or

• repeatedly violating publication ethics requirements.

Major plagiarism may result in immediate rejection or retraction.

14. Author Response and Investigation

Authors will normally be given an opportunity to respond to plagiarism concerns.

The journal may request:

• a written explanation;

• the original data;

• earlier versions of the manuscript;

• related publications;

• proof of permission;

• documentation of authorship; or

• other relevant evidence.

Failure to provide a reasonable response or supporting evidence may affect the editorial decision.

Investigations will be conducted fairly, confidentially, and proportionately.

15. Reviewer and Editor Responsibilities

Reviewers and editors should report suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabricated references, or unattributed material to the Editor-in-Chief.

Reviewers and editors must not publicly accuse authors or contact authors directly regarding suspected misconduct outside the journal’s formal editorial process.

Editors must evaluate allegations objectively and avoid decisions based solely on numerical similarity scores.

16. Confidentiality

Similarity reports and plagiarism investigations are treated as confidential editorial information.

The journal will share such information only with individuals directly involved in the evaluation or investigation, except when disclosure is necessary for institutional, ethical, or legal purposes.

17. Appeals

Authors may appeal a plagiarism-related decision when they believe that:

• the similarity report has been interpreted incorrectly;

• the matching text has been properly cited;

• the similarity resulted from unavoidable technical language;

• the allegation involves an error of fact; or

• the editorial procedure was not followed fairly.

An appeal must be submitted in writing and supported by relevant evidence.

The appeal will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or another qualified editor who was not directly responsible for the original decision whenever possible.

18. Final Responsibility

Authors are responsible for the originality and integrity of their manuscripts.

The use of plagiarism-detection software does not transfer responsibility from the authors to the journal, editors, reviewers, publisher, or software provider.

Lontara: Journal of Learning, Teaching, and Research reserves the right to reject, correct, retract, or investigate any manuscript or article that violates this policy.