Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy and Academic Integrity

The Lead Sci Journal of Management, Innovation and Social Sciences (LSJMISS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and professional ethics. Plagiarism in any form erodes the trust in scholarly communication and is strictly prohibited. To safeguard originality and ensure the credibility of published research, LSJMISS enforces a zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the use of another individual’s ideas, text, images, data, or intellectual contributions without proper acknowledgment. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Direct Copying: Reproducing content from any source without quotation marks and proper citation.

  • Paraphrasing: Rewriting another author’s work or conclusions without giving credit.

  • Unacknowledged Data Use: Incorporating tables, graphs, images, or datasets without proper referencing.

  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing one’s own previously published or submitted work without disclosure or citation of the original source.

Plagiarism Threshold

  • LSJMISS Standard: The similarity index for submitted manuscripts must not exceed 10%.

  • HEC Benchmark (Pakistan): While HEC allows up to 19% similarity, LSJMISS maintains a stricter standard to promote academic excellence.

Detection and Prevention

  • Plagiarism Detection Software: All manuscripts are scanned using leading plagiarism detection tools (e.g., Turnitin) before peer review.

  • Author Responsibility: Authors are solely responsible for ensuring their submissions are original, properly cited, and free from any intellectual property violations.

Handling of Plagiarism

Type of Plagiarism Editorial Action
Minor (e.g., unintentional citation errors) Manuscript returned for correction and proper citation.
Major (e.g., substantial copying without credit) Immediate rejection. If already published, the article will be retracted.
Severe or Repeated Violations Authors will be blacklisted; institutions or funding bodies may also be notified.

Author’s Declaration

All authors must submit a Statement of Originality, confirming that:

  • The manuscript is original and unpublished.

  • All sources have been appropriately cited.

  • The manuscript is not under review elsewhere.

Appeals Process

Authors who believe a plagiarism finding was made in error may file a formal appeal. Appeals are reviewed by the LSJMISS Editorial Board, and decisions are made following an objective and comprehensive evaluation.

Transparency and Retraction Policy

In the case of retraction due to plagiarism, LSJMISS will issue a formal retraction notice that outlines the reason for retraction. This ensures transparency and helps maintain the integrity of the academic record.

Use of AI-Generated Content

LSJMISS strictly prohibits the use of AI-generated content (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Bard, etc.) in any portion of submitted manuscripts. All submissions must reflect original human scholarly work and independent thought.

  • AI-generated or AI-assisted content is not acceptable in the abstract, methodology, results, or discussion.

  • Manuscripts must reflect 0% AI-generated content.

  • Violations of this policy will be treated with the same severity as plagiarism, resulting in rejection or retraction.