The Journal of Community Development Diversity (JCDD) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity. We take plagiarism seriously, as it undermines the credibility of scholarly research and the trust of our readers. JCDD defines plagiarism as the practice of taking someone else’s work, ideas, or words and presenting them as one’s own without proper attribution. This includes both direct copying and paraphrasing without acknowledgment.
1. Definition of Plagiarism
- Types of Plagiarism: Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, copying text, data, images, or ideas from other sources without attribution. It also encompasses self-plagiarism, which occurs when authors reuse substantial parts of their previously published work without proper citation.
- Thresholds for Plagiarism: JCDD considers any similarity beyond 15% to be potentially problematic. We assess cases individually, with particular scrutiny on exact wording, phrasing, and reused concepts.
2. Plagiarism Detection Process
- Preliminary Screening: All manuscripts submitted to JCDD undergo a plagiarism check using advanced plagiarism detection software. This helps us ensure that submitted work is original and free from duplication.
- Review by Editors: If a manuscript is flagged for high similarity, the editorial team reviews the instances to determine if they constitute plagiarism or if they are acceptable, such as common phrases, technical terms, or properly cited material.
3. Actions in Case of Plagiarism
- Minor Overlap or Misattribution: If minor overlap or citation errors are detected, the authors will be notified and asked to revise and resubmit the manuscript with correct attributions and citations.
- Significant Plagiarism: In cases of significant plagiarism, including verbatim copying without attribution, the manuscript will be rejected, and the authors will be informed of the decision.
- Serious Misconduct: In cases of deliberate plagiarism or repeated offenses, JCDD reserves the right to impose further sanctions. This may include a ban on future submissions, notification to the authors' institutions, or reporting to appropriate professional bodies.
4. Author Responsibilities
- Ensuring Originality: Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are original and do not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others. Proper acknowledgment of all sources is required, including quotations, data, and ideas.
- Proper Self-Citation: Authors should cite any relevant prior work of their own, including data or text reused from previous publications, to avoid self-plagiarism.
5. Ethical Guidelines for Reuse
- Permissible Reuse: JCDD allows authors to build upon their prior work as long as they provide appropriate citations, obtain necessary permissions, and make clear distinctions between new and previously published content.
6. Consequences of Published Plagiarized Work
- If plagiarism is detected in a published article, JCDD will take action according to COPE guidelines, which may include issuing a retraction or correction to the article, along with an official statement on the journal’s website.
By enforcing this plagiarism policy, JCDD ensures the quality and integrity of the research we publish. We encourage authors, reviewers, and readers to report any suspected plagiarism for investigation.