Screening Plagiarism
Policy Statement
All manuscripts submitted to the International Journal of Education and Learning Studies (IJELS) , published by PT. Intelektiva Global Nusantara, must represent original scholarly work and must be free from plagiarism, inappropriate textual overlap, duplicate publication, and other forms of academic misconduct.
To protect academic integrity and maintain the credibility of the scholarly record, all submitted manuscripts are screened using Turnitin or other appropriate similarity-detection software before entering the peer-review process.
Purpose of Similarity Screening
Similarity screening is conducted to:
- Identify unattributed copying or inappropriate reuse of previously published material.
- Detect duplicate or redundant publication.
- Identify inappropriate self-reuse or text recycling.
- Evaluate the originality of submitted manuscripts.
- Support fair and ethical editorial decision-making.
Similarity Threshold
IJELS applies a maximum overall similarity index of 20%. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold may be returned to the authors for revision or rejected, depending on the source, pattern, extent, and nature of the detected overlap.
The similarity percentage is not used as the sole basis for editorial decisions. The Editorial Board evaluates the similarity report qualitatively by examining the matched sources, location of overlap, citation practices, concentration of copied material, and whether the similarity represents acceptable scholarly use or potential misconduct.
Similarity Report Exclusions
Where appropriate, the following elements may be excluded or considered separately during the editorial interpretation of the similarity report:
- Reference lists and bibliographic entries.
- Properly formatted and appropriately cited direct quotations.
- Article titles, institutional names, ethical statements, and standard declarations.
- Commonly used methodological or technical terminology.
- Short matches that do not indicate meaningful textual appropriation.
Exclusion of these elements does not permit excessive copying or inadequate paraphrasing. Authors must ensure that all borrowed ideas, words, data, and materials are properly acknowledged.
Forms of Plagiarism and Unacceptable Overlap
Copying words, sentences, paragraphs, figures, tables, or other materials from another source without appropriate quotation and attribution.
Combining copied phrases or ideas from several sources while making only minor changes and failing to provide adequate acknowledgment.
Restating another author's work with only superficial wording changes while retaining the original structure or meaning without proper citation.
Reusing substantial portions of the author's previously published work without transparent disclosure, citation, or appropriate justification.
Publishing or submitting substantially the same manuscript, data, findings, or analysis in more than one publication without disclosure.
Citing a secondary source as though the original source had been consulted, using inaccurate references, or attributing information to an incorrect source.
Screening Stages
Similarity screening may be performed at several stages of the editorial process:
- Before peer review: to determine whether the manuscript meets the journal's originality requirements.
- After major revision: when substantial content has been added, replaced, or reorganized.
- Before final acceptance: to confirm that the revised manuscript remains compliant.
- After publication: when plagiarism or inappropriate overlap is reported or suspected.
Author Responsibilities
Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts:
- Present original scholarly work.
- Properly cite and acknowledge all sources.
- Use quotation marks for verbatim material.
- Paraphrase sources accurately and independently.
- Disclose previously published or closely related work.
- Avoid simultaneous submission and duplicate publication.
- Obtain permission for copyrighted materials where required.
Authors are strongly encouraged to conduct a preliminary similarity check before submission. However, a similarity report does not replace careful citation, responsible paraphrasing, or compliance with publication ethics.
Editorial Actions
Depending on the severity and nature of the detected similarity, the Editorial Board may:
- Request clarification from the authors.
- Return the manuscript for improved citation, quotation, or paraphrasing.
- Require reduction of the similarity level before peer review.
- Reject the manuscript when substantial plagiarism or duplicate publication is identified.
- Withdraw an acceptance decision when serious overlap is detected before publication.
- Publish a correction or expression of concern when appropriate.
- Retract a published article when plagiarism or serious publication misconduct is confirmed.
- Notify the authors' institution or relevant authority in serious or repeated cases.
Post-Publication Plagiarism
If plagiarism, duplicate publication, or serious unattributed overlap is identified after publication, the journal will investigate the allegation in accordance with its Publication Ethics and Retraction Policies. The affected article may be corrected, marked with an expression of concern, or retracted depending on the evidence and severity.
