Plagiarism Policy

The Journal of Engineering Research and Reviews (JERR) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and responsible scholarly communication. Plagiarism in any form is considered a serious violation of publication ethics and will be addressed in accordance with the journal’s Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Policy.

JERR uses iThenticate to screen submitted manuscripts for textual similarity and potential plagiarism. Similarity screening may be conducted at multiple stages of the editorial process, including upon initial submission, during revision, and before final acceptance. Additional checks may be conducted when concerns arise during peer review or after publication.

1. Similarity Screening

All submitted manuscripts are subject to similarity screening using iThenticate or an equivalent similarity-detection system.

JERR generally considers a similarity score of 20% or lower to be an acceptable initial screening level. However, the similarity percentage is not, by itself, evidence of plagiarism or a definitive basis for editorial rejection. Editors assess the nature, location, source, and context of the identified similarities.

Higher similarity may be acceptable in particular circumstances when the identified material consists of legitimate overlap, such as:

• References and bibliographic information;

• Standard technical or scientific terminology;

• Commonly used methodological descriptions;

• Properly cited quotations;

• Appropriate descriptions of established procedures;

• Author-approved and properly cited material from the authors’ previous publications.

Conversely, plagiarism may be identified even when the overall similarity percentage is below 20% if substantial unattributed text, ideas, data, figures, tables, or other intellectual contributions have been appropriated.

2. Forms of Plagiarism

JERR considers the following practices to constitute, or potentially constitute, plagiarism or inappropriate reuse:

• Direct plagiarism: copying text, data, ideas, or other intellectual content without appropriate citation or acknowledgment.

• Mosaic or patchwork plagiarism: combining copied or minimally modified passages from multiple sources without adequate attribution.

• Plagiarism by inadequate paraphrasing: substantially reproducing the structure or wording of another work without appropriate acknowledgment.

• Plagiarism of ideas: presenting another person's original ideas, concepts, interpretations, methods, or findings as one's own without proper attribution.

• Self-plagiarism or redundant reuse: reusing substantial portions of one's previously published work without appropriate citation, disclosure, or justification.

• Translation plagiarism: translating text or substantial intellectual content from another language without appropriate citation and acknowledgment.

• Unauthorized reuse of intellectual property: using images, figures, tables, datasets, software, or other protected material without appropriate attribution and, where required, permission.

• Duplicate or redundant publication: substantially overlapping publication of the same research or content without transparent disclosure and appropriate justification.

3. Editorial Assessment of Similarity

When a similarity report identifies potentially problematic overlap, the editor will assess the report and the underlying sources. Depending on the circumstances, the editor may:

1. Ask the authors to clarify or correct the identified material;

2. Request appropriate citation or acknowledgment;

3. Require substantial revision;

4. Refer the manuscript for further editorial or ethical assessment;

5. Reject the manuscript when plagiarism or serious inappropriate reuse is established.

The journal does not rely exclusively on an automated similarity score. Editorial judgment and examination of the underlying material are essential in determining whether plagiarism has occurred.

4. Plagiarism Identified During Peer Review

If plagiarism or substantial unattributed overlap is identified during peer review, the editor will investigate the concern before proceeding with the manuscript.

Depending on the severity and circumstances, the manuscript may be returned to the authors for clarification or correction, or it may be rejected. Serious cases may be handled under the journal’s broader publication-misconduct procedures.

The journal maintains the confidentiality of manuscripts and related editorial investigations throughout the process.

5. Plagiarism Identified After Acceptance or Publication

If plagiarism is identified after acceptance, the journal may suspend publication and conduct an appropriate editorial investigation.

If plagiarism is identified after publication, JERR will assess the seriousness and potential effect on the integrity of the published record. Appropriate action may include:

• Publication of a correction or clarification;

• Publication of an expression of concern;

• Retraction of the article;

• Notification of the authors’ institutions or other relevant organizations, where appropriate;

• Other actions necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

Retractions and other post-publication actions will be handled in accordance with the journal’s Correction, Retraction, and Post-Publication Policy.

6. Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts are original and that all sources and intellectual contributions are appropriately acknowledged. Authors should:

• Cite all sources accurately and completely;

• Clearly identify direct quotations;

• Paraphrase appropriately and provide citations;

• Obtain permission where required for copyrighted material;

• Properly cite and disclose relevant previous publications;

• Avoid redundant or duplicate publication;

• Ensure that all figures, tables, images, datasets, and other third-party materials are appropriately attributed;

• Review their manuscripts for potential plagiarism or inappropriate text reuse before submission.

Authors are encouraged to use reputable similarity-detection software before submitting a manuscript. However, obtaining a low similarity score does not relieve authors of their responsibility to ensure originality and proper attribution.

7. Previously Deposited Manuscripts, Theses, and Repositories

JERR recognizes that manuscripts may have been previously deposited in institutional repositories, preprint servers, or academic repositories, and that theses and dissertations may contain material that overlaps with a subsequent journal article.

Such deposition does not automatically constitute plagiarism. Authors must, however:

• Clearly disclose relevant prior deposition during submission;

• Provide appropriate citation and acknowledgment of the deposited work;

• Clearly distinguish the submitted manuscript from previously disseminated material where applicable;

• Ensure that reuse of text, figures, tables, or other material complies with applicable copyright and licensing requirements;

• Avoid presenting previously published or publicly disseminated material as entirely new work without appropriate disclosure.

Where a manuscript substantially overlaps with a previously published article, the editor will assess whether the overlap constitutes redundant publication or inappropriate reuse.

8. Authorship and Self-Plagiarism

Authors must take particular care when reusing material from their own previous publications. Reuse of limited portions of text may sometimes be unavoidable in technical or methodological descriptions, but substantial reuse without citation or disclosure may constitute self-plagiarism or redundant publication.

Authors should cite their previous work whenever it materially contributes to the submitted manuscript and should clearly explain any substantial overlap.

9. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors are responsible for evaluating similarity reports fairly and in context rather than relying solely on numerical similarity scores.

Reviewers who identify possible plagiarism or substantial unattributed overlap should confidentially notify the editor and should not communicate allegations directly to the authors unless instructed by the editor.

Reviewers must not use, reproduce, or disclose unpublished material from submitted manuscripts.

10. Confidentiality and Fair Investigation

All allegations of plagiarism will be handled confidentially and fairly. Authors may be asked to provide explanations, original sources, supporting documentation, or other information necessary to assess the concern.

Where appropriate, JERR may consult the authors’ institutions, funders, editors of other journals, or relevant organizations. Any action taken will be proportionate to the seriousness of the concern and consistent with the journal’s publication ethics procedures.

11. Commitment to Research Integrity

JERR considers originality, proper attribution, transparency, and respect for intellectual property fundamental principles of scholarly publishing. The journal will take appropriate and proportionate action whenever plagiarism or other forms of inappropriate content reuse are identified, whether before or after publication.