Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's words, ideas, methods, data, results, images, or other intellectual contributions as one's own without appropriate acknowledgement, citation, attribution, or permission where required.

Plagiarism may involve published or unpublished material and may occur regardless of whether the original source is available in print, digital, audiovisual, data, or other forms.

Forms of Plagiarism

Practices that may constitute plagiarism or inappropriate reuse include, but are not limited to:

• copying text from another source without appropriate quotation, citation, or attribution;
• paraphrasing or closely reproducing another person's ideas, arguments, or expressions without appropriate acknowledgement;
• presenting another person's concepts, methods, analyses, results, or intellectual contributions as one's own;
• using data, datasets, tables, figures, photographs, charts, illustrations, or other materials without appropriate acknowledgement or permission where permission is required;
• presenting another person's research findings as original findings of the submitting author;
• failing to clearly identify and cite direct quotations;
• providing misleading or inaccurate attribution concerning the origin of text, ideas, data, or other material;
• submitting a manuscript substantially written or produced by another person without appropriate attribution or legitimate authorship recognition; and
• inappropriate reuse of substantial portions of an author's own previously disseminated work without adequate citation or transparency.

Text Recycling and Redundant Publication

Reuse of an author's own previously published material is not automatically equivalent to plagiarism. However, substantial reuse without appropriate citation, transparency, or scholarly justification may constitute inappropriate text recycling or redundant publication.

Authors should clearly cite related publications and disclose substantial overlap with previous work where relevant. Submission of substantially the same research to multiple journals or republication of previously published work without appropriate disclosure is not acceptable.

Similarity Screening

DEMETER routinely uses similarity-detection tools as part of its manuscript screening process. Screening may be conducted using Turnitin and, where appropriate, Plagiarism Checker X .

Similarity reports are used as editorial assessment tools. A similarity percentage does not, by itself, establish that plagiarism has occurred. Editors examine the nature, extent, distribution, and sources of matching material before reaching a decision.

Similarity Benchmark

As an editorial benchmark, DEMETER normally expects the overall similarity score of a manuscript not to exceed 15% after appropriate consideration of legitimate matches.

The 15% benchmark is a screening indicator rather than an automatic definition of plagiarism or an automatic acceptance criterion. Manuscripts below 15% may still contain unacceptable plagiarism, while manuscripts exceeding 15% may contain legitimate similarity that requires editorial interpretation.

Bibliographic references, properly identified quotations, standard terminology, methodological phrases, institutional names, legal or technical expressions, and other unavoidable matches may be considered when interpreting a similarity report.

When Screening May Be Conducted

Similarity screening may take place at more than one stage of the editorial process, including:

• during initial editorial screening;
• before external peer review;
• after substantial manuscript revision;
• before final acceptance or publication; or
• after publication if a credible concern regarding unattributed overlap is subsequently raised.

Editorial Actions

When problematic overlap is identified, the editorial response will depend on its extent, nature, location, scholarly significance, and the stage at which it is detected.

Possible actions may include:

• requesting correction of citations, quotations, or attribution;
• requiring rewriting or substantial revision of overlapping passages;
• requesting clarification or documentation from the author;
• returning the manuscript before peer review for technical or ethical correction;
• rejecting the manuscript when plagiarism or inappropriate reuse is substantial or affects the integrity or originality of the work;
• taking appropriate post-publication action when plagiarism is identified after publication; and
• referring serious or unresolved concerns to the author's institution or another appropriate authority where warranted.

Author Clarification and Response

When an integrity concern requires clarification, authors should be given a reasonable opportunity to explain the identified overlap and, where appropriate, provide relevant documentation.

An author explanation does not automatically resolve an integrity concern. The editorial team evaluates the available evidence and determines the appropriate action based on the seriousness and circumstances of the case.

Plagiarism Identified After Publication

Publication does not prevent subsequent investigation of a credible plagiarism allegation. When significant unattributed overlap is identified in a published article, DEMETER will assess the concern and take action appropriate to the reliability and integrity of the scholarly record.

Depending on the circumstances, an editorial response may include a correction, retraction, expression of concern, or another appropriate notice. Detailed post-publication procedures are governed by the journal's Correction & Retraction Policies.

Other Forms of Research Misconduct

Similarity screening does not detect all forms of research misconduct. Data fabrication, data falsification, image manipulation, authorship manipulation, citation manipulation, peer-review manipulation, undisclosed conflicts of interest, and other integrity concerns are addressed under the journal's Publication Ethics and other applicable policies.