Plagiarism Policy

1. Introduction

Macaw Publications upholds the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity. Plagiarism—whether deliberate or unintentional—undermines the credibility of scholarly communication and violates fundamental ethical principles.
This Plagiarism Policy defines the expectations, detection procedures, and consequences associated with plagiarism in our Scientific Research International Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Journal.

2. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism involves the appropriation of another person’s ideas, words, data, or creative work without proper acknowledgment. It includes:

  • Copying text, images, or data directly from published or unpublished sources

  • Inadequate paraphrasing that closely mimics the original structure or phrasing

  • Using another researcher’s ideas or interpretations without citation

  • Self-plagiarism (duplicate or redundant publication)

  • Submitting AI-generated content without disclosure

  • Using fabricated or AI-generated references

  • Republishing previously published work without proper attribution

Any act of presenting someone else’s intellectual output as one’s own constitutes plagiarism.

3. Acceptable Similarity vs. Plagiarism

While some similarity may be inevitable—particularly in methods, standard terminology, or literature review writing—Macaw Publications distinguishes between acceptable similarity and unethical copying.

Acceptable

  • Properly cited quotations

  • Standard scientific phrases

  • Background information with correct attribution

Unacceptable

  • Extensive verbatim text without citation

  • Close rewriting that retains the original meaning and structure

  • Copying data, tables, or figures without permission

  • Using others’ unpublished findings or ideas

Authors must ensure originality and proper acknowledgment of all sources.

4. Plagiarism Detection

All submissions undergo thorough plagiarism screening using advanced similarity detection software and manual editorial examination.
The screening process includes:

  • Checking text overlap across global academic databases

  • Identifying improper paraphrasing

  • Detecting AI-generated or fabricated references

  • Verifying originality of data, figures, and tables

Reports are reviewed by editors to determine the severity and intent of similarity issues.

5. Acceptable Similarity Threshold

Macaw Publications generally follows internationally accepted benchmarks for similarity:

  • Overall similarity index: Typically below 5–10%

  • Single-source overlap: Should not exceed 2%

  • Zero tolerance for verbatim copying of results, conclusions, or unique scholarly expressions

However, editorial judgment may override numerical thresholds in cases of contextual or disciplinary nuance.

6. Handling of Self-Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism includes:

  • Republishing the same research in multiple journals

  • Reusing substantial portions of previously published text without citation

  • Fragmenting research data into multiple papers (“salami slicing”)

Authors must clearly reference any overlapping content from prior publications.

7. AI-Generated Content and Plagiarism

In accordance with our AI Policy:

  • AI tools may be used for language improvement only with disclosure

  • AI-generated academic content, literature, or data is prohibited

  • AI-fabricated citations or references are considered serious misconduct

Undisclosed AI involvement is treated as a form of plagiarism.

8. Consequences of Plagiarism

Macaw Publications follows a strict course of action based on the severity of the violation:

a. Minor Plagiarism (unintentional; low similarity)

  • Notification to authors

  • Request for revision and correction

  • Re-screening before acceptance

b. Major Plagiarism (significant copied content; improper paraphrasing)

  • Immediate rejection of the manuscript

  • Prohibition from resubmitting until revisions are validated

c. Severe Plagiarism (deliberate copying; data plagiarism; duplicate submission)

  • Permanent rejection

  • Blacklisting of authors for a defined period

  • Notification to the authors’ institution or funding body

  • Retraction if discovered post-publication

Plagiarism discovered after publication leads to formal retraction and public notice.

9. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must:

  • Ensure originality of all content

  • Provide accurate citations and references

  • Check similarity before submission

  • Disclose reuse of previously published materials

  • Confirm the manuscript has not been submitted elsewhere

Each author is responsible for the integrity of the entire manuscript.

10. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors and reviewers must:

  • Evaluate manuscripts objectively

  • Report suspected plagiarism to the editorial board

  • Maintain confidentiality of the review process

  • Avoid using unpublished content for personal research

The editorial team ensures fair and systematic handling of all plagiarism concerns.

Macaw Publications, Voice of Global Research | Scientific and Academic Research Journals, is firmly committed to promoting originality, ethical scholarship, and responsible scientific publishing. Our Plagiarism Policy ensures that every published work meets global standards of integrity, fostering trust and advancing quality research across disciplines.