Plagiarism Screening Policy

The Lead Sci Journal of Management, Innovation and Social Sciences (LSJMISS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic honesty and originality. Plagiarism in any form undermines scholarly integrity and is strictly prohibited.

The journal follows internationally recognized ethical standards in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and best practices promoted by the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

• COPE Core Practices: https://publicationethics.org/core-practices
• DOAJ Principles of Transparency: https://doaj.org/apply/guide/

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the use of another person’s ideas, text, data, images, or creative work without proper acknowledgment. It includes, but is not limited to:

• Direct copying without quotation or citation
• Substantial paraphrasing without attribution
• Mosaic plagiarism (patchwork copying from multiple sources)
• Self-plagiarism (redundant or duplicate publication without disclosure)
• Unauthorized use of unpublished material
• Improper citation of sources

All authors are expected to follow internationally accepted standards of academic attribution.

Plagiarism Detection and Screening

All submitted manuscripts are screened for originality using recognized plagiarism detection software, including Turnitin or equivalent tools.

• Turnitin: https://www.turnitin.com/

Similarity reports are reviewed by the editorial team to distinguish acceptable academic overlap from unethical copying.

The presence of a similarity score alone does not determine misconduct; qualitative assessment is conducted in every case.

Acceptable Similarity Threshold

LSJMISS expects manuscripts to demonstrate substantial originality.

As general guidance:

• Similarity index above acceptable academic norms (HEC 19% or lower) may require revision
• Excessive overlap with previously published work may lead to rejection

Authors are encouraged to ensure proper citation and paraphrasing prior to submission.

Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting to LSJMISS must:

• Ensure originality of their work
• Properly cite all sources
• Declare any prior dissemination of the research
• Avoid duplicate and redundant publication
• Submit accurate authorship information

Guidance on responsible authorship is available through COPE: https://publicationethics.org/resources/guidelines

Handling of Suspected Plagiarism

If plagiarism is suspected at any stage of submission, review, or publication, LSJMISS follows COPE flowcharts and procedures: https://publicationethics.org/guidance/Flowcharts

Actions may include:

• Request for explanation from authors
• Mandatory revision
• Rejection of manuscript
• Retraction of published article
• Notification of relevant institutions
• Temporary or permanent submission bans

Decisions are based on evidence and documented procedures.

Plagiarism in Published Articles

If plagiarism is identified after publication, the journal may issue:

• Corrections
• Retractions
• Editorial expressions of concern

In accordance with COPE Retraction Guidelines: https://publicationethics.org/retraction-guidelines

All such notices remain permanently linked to the original article.

Appeals Procedure

Authors may appeal plagiarism-related decisions by submitting a written explanation supported by evidence.

Appeals are reviewed by senior editors independent of the original decision.

Final decisions are communicated transparently.

Education and Prevention

LSJMISS promotes ethical research practices through:

• Clear author guidelines
• Policy dissemination
• Editorial guidance
• Reviewer awareness

Authors are encouraged to consult international resources on academic integrity:

• Office of Research Integrity (ORI): https://ori.hhs.gov/
• COPE Educational Resources: https://publicationethics.org/resources

Commitment to Research Integrity

The LSJMISS is dedicated to safeguarding scholarly credibility and preventing academic misconduct.

By submitting to and publishing in LSJMISS, authors agree to comply fully with this Plagiarism Policy and uphold the principles of responsible research and publication.

Use of Generative AI

The Lead Sci Journal of Management, Innovation and Social Sciences (LSJMISS) permits the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for language editing, grammar correction, readability enhancement, and manuscript formatting.

• AI tools cannot be listed as authors.
• Authors remain fully responsible for all content.
• Any AI use must be disclosed in the manuscript.