Plagiarism Policy

ACADEMIA International Journal of Clinical & Translational Health (AIJCTH)

Introduction

At ACADEMIA International Journal of Clinical & Translational Health (AIJCTH), we uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. Plagiarism—whether deliberate or accidental—compromises the credibility of scientific research and violates the trust of readers, authors, and the scholarly community. Therefore, AIJCTH enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy against plagiarism.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s intellectual property—words, ideas, data, images, or methodologies—without appropriate attribution. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Direct Copying: Reproducing text verbatim from any source without quotation and citation

  • Paraphrasing Without Acknowledgment: Rewriting someone else's ideas or findings without proper credit

  • Unreferenced Data/Visuals: Using figures, graphs, or datasets without citing the original source

  • Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one's own previously submitted or published work without disclosure or citation

Similarity Thresholds

Policy Standard Acceptable Similarity Index
AIJCTH Internal Policy ≤ 19%
HEC Pakistan (Reference Benchmark) ≤ 19%

Plagiarism Detection and Author Responsibility

  • Screening Tools: All manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin.

  • Author’s Role: Authors are solely responsible for ensuring that their manuscript is original and free of uncredited content before submission.

⚖️ Editorial Response to Plagiarism

Type of Plagiarism Editorial Action
Minor (e.g., citation errors) Manuscript returned for correction prior to re-evaluation
Major (e.g., large-scale copying) Immediate rejection or retraction if already published
Repeated/Severe Violations Blacklisting of author(s); notice to institution/funder

✍️ Author Declaration

All submissions must include a Statement of Originality affirming that:

  • The manuscript is original and free of plagiarism

  • All third-party sources are fully and accurately cited

  • The manuscript is not under review or published elsewhere

⚠️ AI-Generated Content Policy

AIJCTH prohibits the use of AI-generated content (e.g., from ChatGPT, Gemini, Bard) in any part of a manuscript, including:

  • Abstract

  • Literature Review

  • Methodology

  • Results and Discussion

❌ Use of AI-generated text or data will result in automatic rejection or post-publication retraction.
✅ All content must reflect original, human-authored academic research.

Appeals Process

Authors may formally appeal a plagiarism decision by submitting:

  • A written explanation

  • Supporting evidence challenging the findings

Appeals are reviewed impartially by the editorial board, and decisions are final.

Transparency and Retractions

In the event of a confirmed plagiarism case:

  • A formal retraction notice will be issued

  • The article will be removed from the archive

  • The retraction will be recorded to uphold journal transparency and credibility