1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when authors present another person's words, ideas, data, findings, images, or other intellectual contributions as their own without appropriate acknowledgment. It includes verbatim copying without proper quotation and citation, inadequate paraphrasing, unattributed use of research results, and the unauthorized appropriation of another person's work.

The journal also recognizes redundant or duplicate publication and inappropriate text recycling, including the reuse of substantial portions of an author's previously published work without adequate disclosure, citation, or justification. Dividing a single study into multiple publications without a valid scholarly reason may also raise concerns about publication ethics.

2. Plagiarism Screening

All submitted manuscripts are subject to plagiarism and similarity screening after submission and before the peer-review process begins. SCIENTIA may use appropriate similarity-checking software and available scholarly databases to identify potentially overlapping text and other forms of unoriginal content.

The publisher's use of Crossref Similarity Check and iThenticate, or any other screening service, is subject to the publisher's current subscription and access arrangements. Similarity reports are used as editorial assessment tools and do not, by themselves, establish whether plagiarism has occurred.

3. Similarity Score and Editorial Assessment

SCIENTIA assesses similarity reports by considering the overall similarity score, the sources of matching text, the nature and location of the overlap, the adequacy of citations, and the scholarly context of the manuscript. Properly cited references, standard methodological expressions, bibliographic entries, and other legitimate matches may contribute to a similarity score without necessarily constituting plagiarism.

These percentage ranges serve as editorial screening guidelines, not as automatic proof of misconduct. The editor-in-chief or an authorized editor retains responsibility for determining the appropriate action based on the evidence and the journal's publication ethics policies.

4. Handling Suspected Plagiarism Before Publication

Suspected plagiarism may be identified by editors, reviewers, editorial staff, screening software, or other parties at any stage of the editorial process, including after acceptance but before publication. The journal will assess the available evidence and may contact the corresponding author to request an explanation, supporting documentation, correction of attribution, or substantive revision.

Depending on the seriousness of the case, the journal may request revisions, suspend editorial processing, reject the manuscript, or take other appropriate action. Serious cases may be referred to the authors' affiliated institutions or other relevant authorities when warranted.

5. Plagiarism Discovered After Publication

If credible concerns about plagiarism arise after publication, SCIENTIA will conduct a preliminary assessment and, where necessary, initiate a further investigation. The journal may contact the authors, their affiliated institutions, funding organizations, or other relevant parties, as appropriate.

If misconduct is established, the journal may publish a correction, an editorial expression of concern, or a retraction notice, depending on the nature and severity of the case. Notices will be linked to the original article as appropriate to maintain a transparent scholarly record. Where necessary, the published article or its PDF may be clearly marked to alert readers to the editorial action taken.

6. Reporting Suspected Plagiarism

Researchers, readers, editors, and other members of the scholarly community who identify suspected plagiarism in an article published by SCIENTIA are encouraged to contact the journal's editorial office. Reports should include the article title, author names, publication details, relevant source material, and a clear explanation of the suspected overlap.

All reports will be assessed fairly and confidentially to the extent possible. The journal may request additional information and will determine the appropriate course of action based on the evidence and applicable publication ethics principles.