Plagiarism Policy

The International Journal of Management Research (IJMR) is committed to maintaining the originality, integrity, and credibility of all scholarly content published by the journal. Plagiarism, duplicate publication, inappropriate text recycling, data manipulation, and the unauthorized use of another person’s intellectual work are considered serious violations of publication ethics.

This policy applies to research articles, review papers, conceptual papers, case studies, short communications, supplementary materials, figures, tables, datasets, and all other content submitted to IJMR.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when an author presents another person’s words, ideas, research findings, data, images, arguments, or intellectual contribution as their own without proper acknowledgement.

Plagiarism may include:

  • Copying text without quotation marks or citation
  • Paraphrasing another source without acknowledgement
  • Reproducing ideas, theories, methods, or findings without citation
  • Using figures, tables, photographs, or illustrations without permission or attribution
  • Submitting another person’s work under one’s own name
  • Translating previously published material without citing the original source
  • Reusing substantial portions of one’s own published work without disclosure
  • Presenting fabricated or manipulated references as genuine sources
  • Using unpublished material obtained through peer review or confidential communication without permission

Similarity Screening

All manuscripts submitted to IJMR may be screened using appropriate similarity-detection software before peer review, during editorial assessment, after revision, or before final publication.

A similarity report is used as an editorial assessment tool. The overall similarity percentage alone does not automatically determine whether plagiarism has occurred. Editors will consider:

  • The source and nature of the matching text
  • Whether the material has been properly quoted and cited
  • The extent of similarity within individual sources
  • Whether copied material appears in important sections
  • Whether the manuscript contains inappropriate text recycling
  • The originality of the research contribution
  • The context and academic significance of the matched content

References, standard terminology, institutional names, research instruments, properly quoted material, and commonly used methodological expressions may produce legitimate similarity.

Similarity Threshold

IJMR does not rely solely on a fixed numerical similarity percentage. Each manuscript is evaluated individually.

Even a low overall similarity score may be unacceptable when it contains unattributed copying from a particular source. Conversely, a higher score may require editorial review where the similarity results from references, properly cited quotations, standard methodology, or unavoidable technical language.

Authors may be asked to revise or explain any significant similarity identified by the editorial office.

Direct Plagiarism

Direct plagiarism involves copying words, sentences, paragraphs, or sections from another source without quotation marks, citation, or permission.

Manuscripts containing substantial direct plagiarism may be rejected immediately without external peer review.

Mosaic or Patchwork Plagiarism

Mosaic plagiarism occurs when an author combines words, phrases, or ideas from several sources and presents them as original writing, even where minor wording changes have been made.

Replacing individual words, changing sentence order, or combining material from different sources does not remove the obligation to provide proper citation.

Paraphrasing Plagiarism

Paraphrasing must involve genuine reformulation and intellectual understanding. Changing only a few words while retaining the original sentence structure or argument without citation may constitute plagiarism.

Authors must cite the original source even when ideas are expressed entirely in their own words.

Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling

Self-plagiarism occurs when authors reuse substantial parts of their previously published or submitted work without proper acknowledgement.

Examples include:

  • Reusing paragraphs from an earlier publication without citation
  • Republishing the same analysis or results as new research
  • Dividing one study into several substantially overlapping papers
  • Submitting content previously published in another language
  • Reusing previously published figures, tables, or data without disclosure
  • Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously

Limited reuse of standard methodological language may be acceptable where necessary, but authors should cite related publications and avoid presenting previously published material as new.

Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Authors must not submit a manuscript that has already been published or is under consideration by another journal.

Substantial overlap with an earlier publication must be clearly disclosed. Authors should explain how the new submission differs from and contributes beyond their previous work.

Conference abstracts, theses, dissertations, institutional reports, and preprints should be disclosed where relevant. The editorial office will determine whether the submitted manuscript provides sufficient original contribution for consideration.

Use of Sources and Citations

Authors must:

  • Cite all sources that have influenced the research
  • Use quotation marks for directly copied wording
  • Provide accurate and complete bibliographic information
  • Cite the original source rather than an unrelated secondary source whenever possible
  • Avoid excessive dependence on a single publication
  • Ensure that every cited reference has genuinely been consulted
  • Avoid adding irrelevant citations to increase citation counts
  • Obtain permission for copyrighted material where required

References must not be invented, manipulated, or generated without verification.

Figures, Tables, Images, and Research Instruments

Figures, tables, diagrams, questionnaires, scales, photographs, and research instruments taken or adapted from another source must be properly acknowledged.

Authors are responsible for:

  • Providing an appropriate citation
  • Indicating whether the material has been reproduced or adapted
  • Obtaining written permission where required
  • Submitting evidence of permission when requested
  • Ensuring compliance with copyright and licensing terms

Changing the appearance, colour, layout, or wording of third-party material does not remove the requirement for attribution.

Data and Idea Misappropriation

The unauthorized use of another researcher’s data, research design, hypothesis, analysis, findings, or unpublished ideas is prohibited.

Information obtained through:

  • Peer review
  • Editorial communication
  • Research supervision
  • Conference presentations
  • Private correspondence
  • Grant applications
  • Unpublished manuscripts

must not be used without permission and proper acknowledgement.

Artificial Intelligence and Plagiarism

Authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, and integrity of all submitted content, including material developed with the assistance of artificial-intelligence tools.

Authors must not use artificial intelligence to:

  • Copy or disguise material taken from existing sources
  • Generate false, fabricated, or unverifiable references
  • Present machine-generated text as independent scholarly analysis without appropriate review
  • Produce fabricated data, quotations, interviews, or research findings
  • Avoid proper citation or conceal plagiarism
  • Misrepresent the author’s intellectual contribution

Any permitted use of artificial-intelligence tools should comply with the journal’s authorship, disclosure, confidentiality, and research-integrity requirements.

Responsibilities of Authors

Before submission, authors should:

  • Check the manuscript carefully for originality
  • Cite all borrowed ideas and materials
  • Verify every reference
  • Obtain approval from all co-authors
  • Disclose related or overlapping publications
  • Confirm that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere
  • Ensure that the work complies with copyright requirements
  • Keep records of permissions and source materials

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all authors are aware of and comply with this policy.

Editorial Procedure Before Publication

When possible plagiarism is identified before publication, the editorial office may:

  1. Examine the similarity report and original sources
  2. Request an explanation from the corresponding author
  3. Ask authors to correct citations or rewrite affected sections
  4. Return the manuscript for major revision
  5. Reject the manuscript
  6. Suspend the review process while the matter is investigated
  7. Contact the authors’ institution in serious cases
  8. Retain records of the submission and investigation

Minor citation errors may be corrected through revision. Substantial or deliberate plagiarism may result in immediate rejection.

Plagiarism Identified During Peer Review

Reviewers should notify the editor when they identify significant similarity, unattributed copying, duplicate publication, or misuse of another researcher’s work.

Reviewers should provide sufficient details or references to help the editor assess the concern. They should not contact the authors directly or conduct an independent public investigation.

Plagiarism Identified After Acceptance

If plagiarism is discovered after acceptance but before publication, the journal may:

  • Suspend production
  • Withdraw the acceptance decision
  • Request a formal explanation
  • Reject the manuscript
  • Notify relevant institutions where appropriate
  • Apply restrictions on future submissions

Acceptance does not prevent the journal from taking action when an ethical violation is discovered.

Plagiarism Identified After Publication

When plagiarism is confirmed after publication, IJMR may take appropriate corrective action, including:

  • Publishing a correction
  • Issuing an expression of concern
  • Retracting the article
  • Removing material in exceptional legal circumstances
  • Linking the published article to an explanatory notice
  • Informing the authors’ institution, employer, or funding body
  • Notifying other affected journals or copyright holders
  • Restricting future submissions from the responsible author or authors

The published record will be corrected transparently according to the seriousness of the violation.

Minor and Major Plagiarism

Minor Plagiarism

Minor plagiarism may include limited unattributed wording, incomplete citation, or poor paraphrasing that does not affect the central originality of the manuscript.

The journal may require authors to:

  • Rewrite the affected material
  • Add missing citations
  • Correct quotations
  • Provide an explanation
  • Resubmit a revised manuscript

Major Plagiarism

Major plagiarism may include:

  • Copying substantial portions of another work
  • Reproducing original ideas or findings without acknowledgement
  • Submitting another person’s manuscript
  • Duplicate publication
  • Extensive unauthorized text recycling
  • Using stolen data, images, or research instruments
  • Deliberately concealing copied material

Major plagiarism normally results in rejection or retraction and may be reported to the relevant institution.

Author Response and Investigation

Authors accused of plagiarism will normally be given an opportunity to respond unless the evidence is clear and immediate action is necessary.

The journal may request:

  • A written explanation
  • Original data or source files
  • Previous versions of the manuscript
  • Relevant permissions
  • Copies of related publications
  • Confirmation from all co-authors
  • A response from the authors’ institution

Failure to respond does not prevent the journal from reaching a decision based on the available evidence.

Appeals

Authors may appeal a plagiarism-related decision by submitting a reasoned written response with relevant evidence.

An appeal should explain:

  • Why the decision is believed to be incorrect
  • Which findings in the similarity assessment are disputed
  • How the matched content was used
  • What citations or permissions support the authors’ position

The Editor-in-Chief may arrange an independent review of the case. Repeated appeals without new evidence may not be considered.

Confidentiality

Plagiarism investigations will be handled confidentially. Information will be shared only with individuals or institutions necessary to assess and resolve the matter.

The journal will avoid making public allegations before completing a fair assessment, except where immediate action is required to protect the scholarly record or comply with legal obligations.

Possible Sanctions

Depending on the seriousness of the violation, IJMR may:

  • Return the manuscript for correction
  • Reject the submission
  • Withdraw an acceptance decision
  • Retract a published article
  • Notify all co-authors
  • Contact the authors’ institution or funding organization
  • Inform affected publishers or copyright holders
  • Decline future submissions for a specified period
  • Remove an individual from journal-related roles
  • Take other corrective action necessary to protect research integrity

Sanctions will be proportionate to the evidence, severity, and circumstances of the case.

Editorial Independence

Plagiarism decisions are independent of publication fees, author status, institutional affiliation, nationality, academic position, or personal relationships.

All authors are subject to the same originality and ethical requirements.

Policy Review

IJMR may periodically review and update this Plagiarism Policy to reflect developments in research integrity, similarity-detection practices, copyright requirements, artificial intelligence, and scholarly publishing standards.