TEJAS Journal of Technologies and Humanitarian Science

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when another person's words, ideas, research findings, data, methods, arguments, images, figures, tables, software, source code, or other intellectual work are presented without appropriate acknowledgment.

Plagiarism may include direct copying, inadequate attribution, inappropriate paraphrasing, unauthorized reproduction of material, or presenting another person's intellectual contribution in a manner that creates a misleading impression of originality.

Forms of Plagiarism

Plagiarism and inappropriate reuse may include:

• Reproducing substantial text without appropriate citation or acknowledgment.
• Presenting another person's ideas, methods, findings, or conclusions as original work.
• Closely paraphrasing a source without adequate attribution.
• Using figures, tables, images, datasets, or other materials without appropriate acknowledgment or required permission.
• Translating material from another language and presenting it as original work without citing the original source.
• Reusing previously published material in a manner that creates a misleading impression of originality.

Text Recycling and Duplicate Publication

Authors should appropriately cite their own relevant previously published work and disclose substantial overlap with earlier publications.

Limited repetition may sometimes occur in descriptions of established terminology or standardized methodological procedures. However, previously published data, results, figures, tables, or substantial portions of text should not be presented as new material without appropriate acknowledgment.

Authors must not submit substantially the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously or republish substantially overlapping work without appropriate disclosure and justification.

Similarity Screening

Submitted manuscripts may be examined using appropriate similarity-detection tools as part of the journal's editorial screening process.

A similarity score is a screening indicator and does not, by itself, establish plagiarism. Similarity may legitimately arise from references, appropriately attributed quotations, standard terminology, methodological descriptions, technical expressions, or other unavoidable textual overlap.

The journal therefore does not determine plagiarism solely on the basis of a fixed numerical similarity percentage. Editors assess the nature, extent, location, source, and context of the identified overlap before determining whether editorial action is required.

Authors may be asked to provide clarification, correct attribution, revise overlapping text, or supply relevant source information where necessary.

Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality and appropriate attribution of all material included in their manuscripts.

Authors should:

• Properly acknowledge all sources that materially contributed to the manuscript.
• Cite the original source when using another author's ideas, methods, findings, or interpretations.
• Clearly identify and appropriately attribute directly quoted material.
• Obtain necessary permission for copyrighted material where required.
• Cite relevant previous publications, including their own work.
• Disclose substantial overlap with previously published, accepted, or submitted material.
• Ensure that figures, tables, images, datasets, software, and other third-party materials are appropriately attributed.

Authors remain responsible for the originality and appropriate attribution of all submitted material, including content prepared with the assistance of automated or generative artificial-intelligence tools.

Editorial Assessment

When potential plagiarism is identified, the journal evaluates the available evidence rather than relying solely on automated similarity results.

The editorial assessment may consider the extent and nature of the overlapping material, the adequacy of attribution, the location of the overlap, whether data or results have been reproduced, and whether the overlap appears inadvertent, substantial, systematic, or misleading.

The corresponding author may be contacted for clarification or supporting documentation when necessary.

Action Before Publication

If plagiarism or inappropriate textual reuse is identified before publication, the journal may take appropriate action according to the nature and seriousness of the concern.

Possible actions include:

• Requesting correction of citations or attribution.
• Requiring revision of overlapping or inadequately paraphrased text.
• Requesting removal or replacement of improperly reproduced material.
• Seeking clarification from the authors.
• Returning the manuscript for substantial revision.
• Rejecting the manuscript when plagiarism materially compromises its originality or scholarly integrity.

Serious or deliberate concerns may also be considered under the journal's Research Misconduct Policy.

Action After Publication

If credible evidence of plagiarism is identified after publication, the journal will assess the matter and may request an explanation or supporting evidence from the authors.

Depending on the seriousness of the findings, appropriate action may include:

• Publication of a correction.
• Correction of attribution where appropriate.
• Publication of an editorial notice where further investigation is required.
• Retraction of the article when plagiarism substantially undermines the originality, reliability, or integrity of the published work.

Post-publication action will be undertaken in accordance with the journal's Corrections and Retractions Policy and applicable publication-ethics procedures.

Contact Editorial Office

Concerns relating to plagiarism, inappropriate attribution, or duplicate publication may be submitted to the Editorial Office.