Plagiarism Policy

The journal The Society and People is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and publication ethics. All submissions are screened for textual similarity using industry-standard detection software, and manuscripts exhibiting a total similarity index above 20% (excluding references, standard methods, and legally required boilerplate) may be rejected without review. The journal maintains zero tolerance for plagiarism and self-plagiarism in any form.

Definition and Scope

  • Plagiarism: The appropriation of ideas, data, methods, images, or words from another source without appropriate acknowledgment through quotation and/or citation. This includes close paraphrasing that mirrors the structure and argument of a source without proper credit.
  • Self-plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously disseminated text, data, or figures in whole or in part without transparent citation, permission where required, and clear justification, including duplicate submission or salami slicing.
  • Mosaic plagiarism: Interlacing original phrasing with unattributed source text or ideas so that the resulting passage substantially reproduces the source’s expression or structure.
  • Idea plagiarism: Utilizing another scholar’s interpretive frameworks, hypotheses, or conceptual models without attribution, even when rephrased.
  • Data/figure plagiarism: Reuse of datasets, tables, figures, maps, or images without permission (where applicable) and full citation, including modified or adapted versions.

Attribution and Quotation Standards

  • Ideas: Any idea, interpretation, methodology, or conclusion derived from another source must be cited at the relevant point in the text. If an idea is further developed, the original source must be cited before presenting the author’s novel contribution.
  • Verbatim text: Four or more consecutive identical words, or distinctive phrasing traceable to a source, must appear within quotation marks (or as a clearly indented block quote where appropriate) with a precise citation and page number(s). A citation alone is not sufficient for verbatim text.
  • Paraphrasing: Substantive paraphrases must meaningfully transform the original language and structure and always include a citation to the source. Superficial synonym replacement is not acceptable.
  • Data and visuals: Reused or adapted data, tables, figures, or images require explicit attribution in captions and in-text, with indication of adaptation and, where necessary, written permission.

Similarity Checking and Thresholds

  • All submissions are screened prior to peer review. A similarity index above 20% may trigger immediate rejection or a request for revision, at the editors’ discretion. The threshold is a guideline rather than an entitlement; even lower scores may be problematic if significant unattributed overlap is detected.
  • The similarity check is a tool, not a verdict. Editors and reviewers may identify ethical issues beyond software-detected overlap.

Author Responsibilities

  • Authors must ensure originality, accurate citation, and transparent reuse of their prior work, including preprints, conference papers, or datasets.
  • Authors must disclose any prior dissemination, overlapping manuscripts under consideration elsewhere, and reuse of text, data, or figures.
  • Where institutional, funder, or legal permissions are required for reuse, authors must obtain and document these prior to submission.

Editorial Actions and Consequences

  • Desk rejection: Manuscripts with clear plagiarism or self-plagiarism, including duplicate submissions, may be rejected without peer review.
  • Investigation: Allegations raised at any stage will prompt editorial inquiry, including requests for source materials and explanations.
  • Corrections and retractions: Confirmed ethical breaches post-acceptance may result in withdrawal of acceptance, post-publication corrections, expressions of concern, or retraction, consistent with best practices in publication ethics.
  • Notifications: In serious cases, the journal may notify authors’ institutions, funders, or relevant registries.
  • Bans: The journal may impose time-bound submission bans on authors found to have committed serious or repeated violations.

Education and Remediation

  • The journal encourages early sharing of drafts in institutional repositories and responsible use of citation managers and note-taking practices to minimize inadvertent overlap.
  • Where editors deem overlap unintentional and correctable, a single opportunity for revision may be offered with explicit guidance.

Contact

Questions about this policy, detected overlap, or appropriate attribution standards may be addressed to the Editorial Office: Contact | The Society and People

By submitting to the journal The Society and People, authors acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agree to abide by this Plagiarism Policy.

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