Plagiarism Policy

At Forefront in Sociology & Political Sciences, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity. Plagiarism, in any form, undermines the credibility of scholarly work and violates ethical research practices. Our journal takes plagiarism very seriously and has established a strict Plagiarism Policy to prevent and address any instances of academic dishonesty in the articles we publish.

This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to the journal, whether through self-plagiarism, improper citation, or the intentional or unintentional use of others' work without appropriate attribution.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else’s work, ideas, or intellectual property as one’s own without proper acknowledgment. It includes, but is not limited to:

Direct Copying: Copying text, data, or images from a source without proper citation.
Paraphrasing: Rewriting someone else’s work without appropriate citation, making it seem like the ideas or phrasing are original.
Self-Plagiarism: Reusing one’s own previously published work without proper citation, especially in multiple journals or conferences.
Data Fabrication: Presenting falsified or manipulated research data as authentic.
Uncredited Reproduction of Visuals or Tables: Using tables, charts, figures, or images from another source without proper attribution.

Prevention of Plagiarism

To maintain the integrity of the research we publish, Forefront in Sociology & Political Sciences follows a proactive approach to prevent plagiarism:

Submission Screening:
All submitted manuscripts are screened using reliable plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate) to check for similarities with published work. Authors are encouraged to check their manuscripts for originality before submission.
Clear Citation Guidelines:
We provide clear and detailed author guidelines to ensure that authors properly cite all sources, including ideas, data, and text borrowed from other works. We expect strict adherence to the citation and referencing styles prescribed by the journal (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).
Educational Resources:
We provide resources on academic integrity and proper citation techniques, especially for early-career researchers and authors who may not be familiar with best practices in scholarly publishing.

Detection of Plagiarism

If plagiarism is suspected during the review or editorial process, the following steps will be taken:

Initial Investigation:
The editorial team will first verify the allegation by reviewing the manuscript, comparing it with existing sources, and using plagiarism detection tools.
Notification to the Author:
If significant plagiarism is found, the corresponding author will be notified. The author will be given the opportunity to explain or provide clarification regarding the similarities identified.
Action Based on Findings:
Depending on the severity of the plagiarism, several actions may be taken, including:
- Minor Instances: If the plagiarism is unintentional and can be corrected (e.g., improper citations), the author will be asked to revise the manuscript and properly cite the sources before resubmission.
- Serious Instances: If the plagiarism is substantial, such as significant portions of text copied from another source or data fabrication, the manuscript will be rejected outright. The author may also face a ban on submitting to the journal in the future.
- Retraction: If plagiarism is identified after the article has been published, a formal retraction notice will be issued, and the article will be removed from the journal’s website and databases.

Self-Plagiarism Policy

Self-plagiarism occurs when an author reuses significant portions of their own previously published work without proper citation. Forefront in Sociology & Political Sciences takes self-plagiarism seriously and requires authors to disclose any previously published material used in their submission. This includes:

Citing Earlier Work: Authors must cite their prior publications if they reuse any content or ideas from them.
Substantial Similarity: Manuscripts that are deemed substantially similar to the author’s prior work, including those published in other journals or conferences, will be rejected or flagged for revision.
Ethical Reuse: Authors are encouraged to use their previous work ethically, ensuring that new contributions are made, and proper acknowledgment is given when reusing parts of their earlier research.

Consequences of Plagiarism

The consequences of plagiarism at Forefront in Sociology & Political Sciences are designed to maintain the journal’s integrity and deter dishonest academic practices. These may include:

Rejection of Manuscript: Manuscripts found to contain plagiarized content may be rejected at any stage of the editorial process.
Retraction of Published Articles: If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the article will be retracted and a public notice of retraction will be issued.
Banning Authors: Authors who are found to have plagiarized may be banned from submitting future work to the journal, and their institutions may be informed of the violation.
Reporting to Academic Bodies: In cases of severe misconduct, the plagiarism may be reported to academic and professional bodies, such as university committees, academic societies, and other publishers.

Appeals Process

If an author disagrees with the decision regarding plagiarism, they may submit an appeal to the Editorial Board. The appeal should include a detailed explanation of why the author believes the plagiarism claim is unfounded, along with any supporting evidence. The Editorial Board will review the appeal and make a final decision.

Publication Ethics and Integrity

As part of our commitment to maintaining high ethical standards, Forefront in Sociology & Political Sciences adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines for handling ethical issues in academic publishing. The journal will take appropriate action on any breach of publication ethics, including plagiarism, to ensure the trust and credibility of the scholarly community.

Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about our Plagiarism Policy, please feel free to contact the editorial office at:

Email: prithivraj@scientificforefront.org

We are committed to helping authors navigate the publication process while ensuring the highest standards of academic integrity.