Policy for plagiarism

Policy for Plagiarism

Frontiers in Computational Science and Engineering (FCSE) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing practices. Plagiarism, in all its forms, is considered a severe breach of ethics and is strictly prohibited.

Definition of Plagiarism:

Plagiarism involves using another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without proper acknowledgment. It includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text word-for-word from another source without proper citation.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing significant portions of previously published work without citation or acknowledgment.
  • Mosaic Plagiarism: Blending copied material with original text or inserting phrases from a source without quotation marks or proper citation.
  • Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting someone else's ideas without proper attribution.

Detection of Plagiarism:

  • Submission Screening: All submitted manuscripts undergo plagiarism detection using specialized software to identify instances of overlap and similarity with existing literature.
  • Reviewer Checks: Reviewers and editors also examine potential plagiarism during the review process, using their expertise and knowledge.

Handling of Plagiarism:

  • Minor Overlap (Less than 10%):
    • If minor instances of similarity are detected, authors are informed and asked to revise the manuscript appropriately to ensure proper citation and originality.
  • Moderate Overlap (10%-30%):
    • In cases of moderate overlap, the manuscript is returned to the authors for significant revision and proper citation of all sources. The revised manuscript must be resubmitted for review.
  • Severe Plagiarism (More than 30%):
    • Manuscripts with severe plagiarism will be rejected outright. Authors will be informed of the reason for rejection, and the incident will be documented.
    • In cases of severe or repeated offenses, the authors’ institutions may be notified, and the authors may be banned from submitting future manuscripts to FCSE.

Consequences of Plagiarism:

  • Manuscript Rejection: Plagiarized manuscripts are immediately rejected and will not be considered for publication.
  • Retraction: If plagiarism is discovered in a published article, the article will be retracted. A retraction notice will be published, and the article will be removed from the journal’s online database.
  • Author Ban: Authors found guilty of plagiarism may be banned from submitting future manuscripts to FCSE.
  • Notification to Institutions: In cases of severe or repeated plagiarism, the authors' affiliated institutions may be notified to take further action.

Author Responsibilities:

  • Originality: Authors must ensure their work is original and properly cite all sources and references.
  • Disclosure: Authors must disclose any prior publications or submissions of the manuscript content.
  • Acknowledgment: All contributors and sources must be appropriately acknowledged.

Reviewers and Editors' Role:

  • Vigilance: Reviewers and editors are expected to be vigilant and report any suspected instances of plagiarism.
  • Confidentiality: All allegations and investigations of plagiarism are handled confidentially to protect the rights and reputation of all parties involved.

Appeals and Disputes:

  • Appeal Process: Authors who believe their manuscript was wrongly accused of plagiarism may submit an appeal to the editorial office. The appeal must include a detailed explanation and supporting evidence. The appeal will be reviewed by the editorial board.
  • Resolution: Disputes will be resolved based on the evidence and in accordance with the journal’s ethical policies.

By adhering to this plagiarism policy, Frontiers in Computational Science and Engineering (FCSE) ensures the integrity and credibility of the research it publishes, fostering trust within the academic community and beyond.