Screening Plagiarism

 

At MODERATE: Journal of Religious, Education, and Social, academic integrity is of the utmost importance. To ensure the originality of the manuscripts published in the journal, all submitted papers undergo a rigorous plagiarism screening process using the Turnitin and iThenticate similarity detection tool. This process is in place to detect any potential plagiarism or self-plagiarism and ensure that all works adhere to the highest academic standards.

Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism is a serious academic violation and is strictly prohibited in MODERATE. Plagiarism occurs when an author takes ideas, information, or words from another source without giving proper credit or citation to the original author or source. Whether intentional or unintentional, plagiarism is unacceptable and will lead to the immediate rejection of the manuscript. This includes direct copying of text or paraphrasing without proper attribution. Even when an author paraphrases or restates ideas from another work, proper citation is still required.

What Constitutes Plagiarism?
There are various forms of plagiarism, all of which are taken seriously by MODERATE. These include:

  1. Direct Plagiarism: Copying someone else's work or ideas without citation or attribution. This also includes copying large portions of text verbatim without placing the borrowed text in quotation marks and providing the appropriate reference.

  2. Self-Plagiarism: When an author reuses their own previously published work without proper citation or acknowledgment. Even if the work is their own, submitting it as new or original content without indicating that it has been published before is considered self-plagiarism.

  3. Mosaic Plagiarism: Incorporating phrases or ideas from other works without proper quotation marks or citation, even if the author rephrases the content. This includes taking segments of text from multiple sources and weaving them into one's own work without acknowledging the original sources.

  4. Accidental Plagiarism: Sometimes, authors may inadvertently plagiarize by not properly citing sources, or by being unaware that they are copying text or ideas from a source. Regardless of intent, this form of plagiarism is also unacceptable and will be flagged during the plagiarism screening process.

How Plagiarism is Detected
MODERATE uses the Turnitin and iThenticate similarity detection tool to assess submitted manuscripts for originality. Turnitin compares the submitted text to a vast database of academic papers, journals, books, and web content, as well as previously published manuscripts. It then generates a similarity report, highlighting any sections that match existing sources.

The similarity index provided by Turnitin helps editors and reviewers identify potential plagiarism. If a manuscript shows a high percentage of similarity to other sources, it will be flagged for further review. Based on this report, the editors will determine whether the paper should be rejected or if the author needs to revise and properly cite the sources.

Citing Sources Correctly
Authors are required to cite any source from which they borrow ideas, data, or text. The journal encourages authors to follow proper citation practices to avoid any unintentional plagiarism. Here are the general rules for proper citation:

  1. Ideas: When an author takes an idea from another work, even if they expand on it or develop it further, they must provide a citation to the original source. This includes theoretical frameworks, research methodologies, and any broad concepts that are referenced in the paper. The citation gives credit to the original author for the idea.

  2. Quoting Direct Text: When an author directly uses the words of another author, quotation marks must be used, and a citation must be provided. If the manuscript contains four or more consecutive words taken from another source, these words must be placed in quotation marks, and the original author must be cited. A citation alone is not sufficient without quotation marks.

  3. Common Knowledge: Information that is widely known and accepted (e.g., general facts, historical events, or widely recognized data) does not require a citation. However, when in doubt, it is always safer to provide a citation to avoid potential plagiarism.

Consequences of Plagiarism
MODERATE takes academic integrity very seriously. If a manuscript is found to have plagiarized content, the journal reserves the right to reject the paper immediately. In cases where plagiarism is discovered after the paper has been accepted, MODERATE may withdraw its acceptance and take appropriate actions as necessary.

The editors and reviewers are committed to ensuring the publication of original and high-quality work, and they expect authors to uphold the same standards. Failure to comply with these standards could result in the retraction of the paper or a ban from submitting to the journal in the future.

Author Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the submitting author to ensure that their manuscript complies with international standards for academic integrity, particularly with regard to plagiarism. Authors must properly attribute all ideas, data, and text that are not their own, and must avoid any form of plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional.

For further information, authors can contact the editorial office at: moderatejres@gmail.com

MODERATE is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of academic publishing and ensuring the integrity of all published research. By adhering to these strict plagiarism policies, the journal upholds the credibility of its published content and fosters a culture of scholarly honesty and transparency.