Plagiarism Policy

At Ramooz-e-Tahqeeq, we uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and originality. Plagiarism, in any form, is considered a severe ethical violation and is strictly prohibited. This policy outlines our approach to preventing, identifying, and addressing plagiarism to maintain the credibility and trustworthiness of the research we publish.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, words, or data as one’s own without proper acknowledgment. It includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text or ideas verbatim from another source without citation.

  • Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously published work or significant portions of it without proper acknowledgment.

  • Mosaic Plagiarism: Combining phrases or passages from multiple sources and presenting them as original work.

  • Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting another’s ideas in different words without citing the source.

  • Data Fabrication or Falsification: Manipulating or inventing data to mislead or distort research outcomes.

Commitment to Preventing Plagiarism

Ramooz-e-Tahqeeq maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism.

  • Originality: Authors must submit only original, unpublished work. All references, citations, and data sources must be accurately acknowledged.

  • Plagiarism Check: Every submitted manuscript undergoes plagiarism screening using advanced detection tools such as Turnitin or equivalent software.

  • Editorial Oversight: The editorial board reviews all flagged similarities to determine whether the overlap constitutes acceptable citation or unethical duplication.

  • Author Accountability: Authors bear full responsibility for ensuring that their manuscripts are free from plagiarism before submission.

Procedures for Handling Plagiarism

  • Initial Detection: If plagiarism is detected during the screening process, the editorial team will assess the severity of the overlap.

    • Minor issues (e.g., missing citations or unintentional similarity) will result in a request for correction.

    • Significant overlap will lead to rejection or investigation.

  • Verification Process: The editorial board will verify all plagiarism reports and determine whether the issue is intentional, negligent, or minor.

  • Rejection: Manuscripts with confirmed plagiarism are immediately rejected, and the authors are notified with a detailed explanation.

  • Retraction: If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the journal will issue a formal retraction notice and remove the article from the website while maintaining transparency through the retraction statement.

Consequences of Plagiarism

  • Immediate Rejection: Manuscripts containing significant plagiarism are rejected outright.

  • Blacklisting: Authors found guilty of plagiarism may be barred from future submissions to Ramooz-e-Tahqeeq for a period determined by the editorial board.

  • Institutional Reporting: In severe cases (e.g., data falsification or deliberate plagiarism), the journal may report the misconduct to the author’s affiliated institution or funding agency.

  • Academic Repercussions: Plagiarism damages an author’s academic credibility and reputation, impacting future research opportunities.

Author’s Responsibilities

  • Proper Citation: Authors must correctly cite all sources—whether direct quotes, paraphrases, or summarized ideas—using the journal’s prescribed citation format.

  • Acknowledgment: Any individual or institution contributing to the research or manuscript must be properly acknowledged.

  • Transparency: Authors must disclose prior publications, reused data, or overlapping work at the time of submission.

  • Reporting Plagiarism: If authors identify plagiarism in their own work or that of others, they are encouraged to inform the editorial office immediately.

Use of Plagiarism Detection Software

Ramooz-e-Tahqeeq employs plagiarism detection software to screen all submissions against a vast database of journals, books, and web content.

  • If plagiarism is detected, authors are notified and may be asked to revise and resubmit their manuscript to remove the copied material.

  • The final version must demonstrate full compliance with ethical and citation standards before proceeding to peer review.

Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers

  • Confidentiality: Reviewers must not share or use the manuscript’s content for personal benefit.

  • Ethical Vigilance: If a reviewer suspects plagiarism, data fabrication, or duplicate submission, they must promptly report it to the editorial team.

  • Objectivity: Reviewers should provide fair and unbiased assessments, helping authors correct potential ethical oversights.

Acknowledgment of Sources

  • Authors must use the approved referencing style (e.g., APA, MLA, or as defined by Ramooz-e-Tahqeeq) for all citations.

  • Proper credit should be given to collaborators, advisors, and institutions that contributed to the research or manuscript preparation.

Revisions for Plagiarism

If plagiarism is detected during the review or pre-publication process:

  • Authors may be given an opportunity to revise and resubmit if the plagiarism is minor and unintentional.

  • In cases of significant or deliberate plagiarism, the manuscript will be rejected immediately, and further submissions may be restricted.

Transparency and Accountability

  • Ramooz-e-Tahqeeq maintains full transparency in handling plagiarism cases.

  • Authors are informed of all decisions and given an opportunity to respond.

  • If an article is rejected or retracted for plagiarism, a public record of the reason will be maintained on the journal’s website.