Plagiarism Policy

PLAGIARISM POLICY

EarthXplorer Journal (EXJ)

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when author(s) present work, data, or ideas from others as their own without proper acknowledgment. EarthXplorer Journal recognizes two primary forms of plagiarism:

  1. Direct Plagiarism: Unattributed copying of another author's published or unpublished work, ideas, or text.
  2. Self-Plagiarism (Duplicate Publication): Reusing substantial portions of one’s own previously published material without proper citation or justification.
2. Screening Process and Tools

  • System Used: Every manuscript submitted to EarthXplorer Journal is screened for text overlap and similarity using Turnitin.
  • Timing: Screening is conducted immediately upon submission, prior to sending the manuscript to editors and reviewers.
  • Technical Disclaimer: In rare cases where source documents are restricted, unindexed, or behind publisher paywalls, automated tools may not detect similarity. However, authors remain fully responsible for ensuring the originality of their work.
3. Handling Policy and Sanctions

All suspected cases of plagiarism are evaluated on a case-by-case basis:

  • Minor Similarity: If minor overlapping text is detected during pre-publication stages (editorial review, peer review, or copyediting), authors will be notified and required to revise, properly quote, or cite the original sources.
  • Extensive Plagiarism (Similarity ≥ 25%): If a manuscript contains extensive similarity—defined as 25% or more copied content—the submission will be rejected immediately. The editorial board reserves the right to notify the author’s home institution or employer regarding severe breaches of academic integrity.