Plagiarism Policy and Academic Integrity

Journal of SPHERES, published by Synergy Publication, is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, transparency, and ethical scholarly publishing across interdisciplinary fields.

In accordance with internationally recognized principles of academic integrity and responsible research practices, JSPHERES adopts a maximum permissible similarity threshold of less than 10% for submitted manuscripts to ensure originality, scholarly contribution, and responsible use of academic sources.

The journal follows the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding plagiarism, text recycling (self-plagiarism), duplicate publication, citation manipulation, inappropriate attribution, and other forms of publication misconduct.

Similarity Threshold and Screening Tools

  • Maximum permissible similarity: ≤ 10% (after excluding bibliography, properly quoted material, references, and other accepted exclusions).
  • Similarity assessment is conducted using iThenticate plagiarism detection software provided through Crossref.

Exclusions from Similarity Assessment

The following content may be excluded from similarity calculations where appropriate:

  • Properly quoted passages with appropriate citations and quotation marks.
  • References, bibliography, acknowledgements, footnotes, and standard citation elements.
  • Common academic terminology, theoretical concepts, methodological descriptions, and discipline-specific expressions.
  • Author self-citations that are transparently disclosed and correctly referenced.
  • Established definitions, historical facts, educational concepts, philosophical terminology, or widely accepted scholarly descriptions.

Manuscripts exceeding the 10% similarity threshold after these exclusions may be considered to contain unacceptable textual overlap and will be evaluated according to the journal's plagiarism and publication ethics procedures.

Author Responsibilities Before Submission

Authors are expected to:

  • Ensure that submitted manuscripts represent original scholarly work.
  • Provide appropriate citations, references, acknowledgements, and attribution for all sources, including published literature, archival materials, datasets, educational resources, cultural materials, and theoretical frameworks.
  • Clearly disclose and properly reference any reused material from previous publications.
  • Ensure that manuscripts are not under consideration elsewhere, except where prior dissemination such as preprints, dissertations, conference papers, or institutional repositories has been disclosed according to journal policy.

By submitting a manuscript, the corresponding author confirms that the submission:

  • Is original and free from plagiarism.
  • Complies with the journal's similarity threshold of less than 10%.
  • Follows internationally accepted standards of research integrity and publication ethics.

Plagiarism Screening Process

Every manuscript submitted to JSPHERES undergoes plagiarism screening before entering the peer review process.

  1. Automated similarity analysis using iThenticate plagiarism detection software provided through Crossref.
  2. Editorial examination of identified similarities, matching sources, and citation practices.
  3. Manual assessment of similarity reports to distinguish legitimate scholarly overlap from potential plagiarism or publication misconduct.

Editorial Decisions Based on Similarity Reports

  • Similarity ≤ 10% (after accepted exclusions): The manuscript normally proceeds to editorial evaluation and peer review.
  • Similarity > 10%: The manuscript may be returned to authors for clarification, revision, appropriate citation, or reduction of unnecessary overlap.
  • Substantial similarity or evidence of plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabricated sources, or other misconduct: The manuscript may be rejected without external peer review.

Handling Plagiarism and Publication Misconduct

When plagiarism or other forms of publication misconduct are identified, JSPHERES follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Pre-Publication Actions

  • Rejection of manuscripts where serious plagiarism or academic misconduct is confirmed.
  • Notification of the corresponding author regarding identified concerns and required clarification.
  • Request for correction, revision, or explanation where overlap is considered unintentional or correctable.
  • Communication with the author's institution, research organization, or funding body where appropriate.
  • Restriction of future submissions to JSPHERES or other journals published by Synergy Publication depending on the seriousness and recurrence of the violation.

Post-Publication Actions

  • Publication of a Correction, Expression of Concern, or Retraction, depending on the nature and severity of the issue.
  • Notification of relevant institutions, research organizations, funding agencies, and indexing services where necessary.
  • Permanent restrictions on future submissions in cases involving serious or repeated academic misconduct.

Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling

  • Authors must disclose and properly cite any material reused from their own previously published works.
  • Limited overlap in sections such as methodology, theoretical frameworks, historical background, educational context, conceptual discussions, or research design may be acceptable when appropriately referenced and academically justified.
  • Undisclosed, excessive, or misleading reuse of previously published text, arguments, interpretations, data, or research outputs is considered self-plagiarism and will be addressed according to the journal's publication ethics policies.

Responsible Use of Sources and Knowledge

Journal of SPHERES recognizes the importance of responsible knowledge development across diverse disciplines. Authors are expected to respect intellectual contributions from different academic traditions, communities, cultures, and knowledge systems by providing accurate attribution and avoiding misrepresentation of existing scholarship.