Plagiarism Screening Policy

Plagiarism Screening Policy

The Gandhara Journal of Natural Sciences (GJNS) upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and originality in scholarly publishing. To ensure the authenticity of published research, GJNS implements a rigorous plagiarism screening process for all submitted manuscripts.

This policy aligns with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and international publishing best practices while adhering to Afghan cultural values and Islamic ethical principles.

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Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another person’s words, ideas, data, or creative work, presenting them as one’s own. This includes:

      1. Direct Copying – Verbatim use of text without quotation marks and citation.
      2. Paraphrasing Without Attribution – Rewriting substantial sections without proper acknowledgment.
      3. Data Plagiarism – Presenting another researcher’s findings, figures, or datasets as original.
      4. Self-Plagiarism – Republishing one’s own previously published work without citation or prior journal consent.

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Phases of Plagiarism Screening

Phase 1: Initial Editorial Check

Step 1: Pre-Screening Using Turnitin

All submitted manuscripts are screened using Turnitin plagiarism detection software. Similarity reports are generated to identify overlapping text and potential ethical issues.

Step 2: Editorial Evaluation of Similarity Reports

The editorial team carefully reviews the Turnitin report to distinguish:
      a. Legitimate overlaps – Standard methods, references, and commonly used phrases.
      b. Unacceptable overlaps – Copied text, results, or uncredited sections.

Threshold Guidelines:

Similarity Index

Editorial Action

≤ 15%

Acceptable; proceed to peer review.

16%–30%

Conditional; author revision required.

> 30%

Rejected; potential unethical similarity.

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Phase 2: Author Notification and Action

  • Authors exceeding acceptable similarity levels are notified promptly.
  • A detailed Turnitin report is shared, highlighting problematic sections.
  • Authors are required to revise and resubmit their manuscript with proper citations.

Revised manuscripts undergo re-screening to confirm compliance.

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Phase 3: Post-Acceptance Random Screening

Even after acceptance, GJNS reserves the right to conduct random plagiarism checks. If plagiarism is detected:
✅ The manuscript may be withdrawn.
✅ Authors’ affiliated institutions may be notified in severe cases.

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Handling Confirmed Plagiarism

For verified cases of plagiarism, GJNS will:
      a. Reject the manuscript and notify the author(s) with a detailed explanation.
      b. In serious cases, impose a submission ban (e.g., 1 year) for the author(s).
      c. Inform the authors’ institutions or funding agencies for egregious misconduct.

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Acceptable Overlaps

The following overlaps are excluded from the similarity index during manual evaluation:

  • Properly cited quotations.
  • Bibliographies and reference lists.
  • Commonly used scientific phrases or methodological descriptions.

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Ethical and Cultural Considerations

GJNS’s plagiarism policy is guided by:
✅ COPE Guidelines on Ethical Publishing
✅ Islamic principles on honesty and intellectual property
✅ Kandahar University’s institutional policies on academic integrity.

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Value Additions and Future Enhancements

✅ Integration with CrossRef Similarity Check for additional screening.
✅ Author education resources on ethical writing and citation practices.
✅ Annual plagiarism statistics report published on the GJNS website for transparency.
✅ Reviewer guidelines to detect overlooked instances of plagiarism.

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Review and Updates

This policy is reviewed annually and updated to reflect evolving academic standards, technological advancements in plagiarism detection, and international best practices.

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Contact for Queries or Reporting Plagiarism

Email: [Insert official GJNS editorial email]
CC: rpashtoon@hotmail.com
Editorial Office – Gandhara Journal of Natural Sciences, Kandahar University