Plagiarism Policy

CJOG maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism, duplication of text, data fabrication, image manipulation, and unethical reuse of previously published material. This policy aligns with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ICMJE, and international scholarly publishing standards. Our goal is to ensure originality, transparency, and research integrity for all published works.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when an author presents someone else’s work—words, ideas, images, data, or findings—as their own without appropriate credit. It includes direct copying, paraphrasing without citation, and inappropriate reuse of one’s own prior work (self-plagiarism).

Forms of Plagiarism

• Direct plagiarism: Verbatim copying of sentences, paragraphs, or data.
• Mosaic plagiarism: Rewriting another author’s work with minor modifications.
• Self-plagiarism: Reusing previously published content without proper citation.
• Data plagiarism: Using published data, tables, or figures without permission or attribution.
• Image plagiarism: Reproducing or altering images without disclosure.
• Idea plagiarism: Presenting another person’s concept or hypothesis as one’s own.

Similarity Screening Process

Every manuscript submitted to CJOG undergoes similarity checking using advanced plagiarism detection software. The evaluation includes:

• Full manuscript text screening.
• Comparison with published articles, books, theses, and conference papers.
• Checking against online sources and databases.
• Screening of figures, images, and tables.

Similarity Threshold

CJOG does not use a rigid numerical threshold; instead, editors examine:

• The context of matched text.
• Whether overlaps occur in critical content (results, discussion).
• Presence of proper citation and quotation marks.
• Nature of shared terminology (e.g., standard medical phrases).

As a general guideline, manuscripts with over 15–18% unreferenced similarity may require revision, and those with over 25% problematic overlap may be rejected.

Self-Plagiarism and Redundant Publication

Authors must avoid duplicate submission or redundant publication. Acceptable reuse includes:

• Reusing methods text with minor overlap (with citation).
• Extending previous work with substantial new findings.
• Depositing preprints before submission, with full transparency.

Unacceptable practices include:

• Submitting the same paper to multiple journals.
• Publishing overlapping datasets without citation.
• Reusing figures, charts, or tables from prior works without permission.
• Publishing multiple small papers from one dataset (“salami slicing”).

Image Integrity and Manipulation

CJOG examines all submitted images (clinical photographs, microscopy images, ultrasound images, graphical data). Unacceptable manipulation includes:

• Altering brightness, contrast, or resolution to conceal features.
• Duplicating, cropping, or assembling images misleadingly.
• Adding or removing elements from clinical photographs.

Authors must provide original image files when requested during review or investigation.

Handling Suspected Plagiarism

CJOG follows COPE-aligned workflows to investigate plagiarism before and after publication.

1. Plagiarism Detected Before Peer Review

• The editorial office notifies the corresponding author.
• Authors must provide a detailed explanation.
• Manuscript may be rejected or returned for revision.

2. Plagiarism Detected During Peer Review

• Reviewers or editors flag overlapping content.
• An internal committee evaluates the severity.
• Authors may be asked for corrections or clarifications.

3. Plagiarism Detected After Publication

The journal may issue:

• Correction – For minor issues.
• Expression of Concern – During investigations.
• Retraction – For serious ethical violations.
• Removal – For legally sensitive content.

Consequences for Authors

Depending on severity, consequences may include:

• Manuscript rejection.
• Publication retraction.
• Submission restrictions for 12–36 months.
• Notification to affiliated institutions.
• Permanent ban in cases of repeated misconduct.

Author Responsibilities to Prevent Plagiarism

• Ensure all sources are properly cited using standard formats.
• Quote verbatim material using quotation marks.
• Paraphrase accurately and reference the original work.
• Maintain detailed research notes and citations.
• Use plagiarism-checking tools before submission.

Reviewer and Editor Roles in Plagiarism Detection

Reviewers and editors contribute significantly to plagiarism prevention:

• Identifying overlapping text during review.
• Flagging unusual writing patterns.
• Detecting inconsistencies in data or images.
• Reporting suspected duplication to the editorial office.

Case Study Examples

Example 1: Minor Overlap

Scenario: Methods section contains widely used standard text.

Action: Revision requested; plagiarism not recorded as misconduct.

Example 2: Moderate Plagiarism

Scenario: Several paragraphs match a prior publication without citation.

Action: Manuscript returned for correction with strict warning.

Example 3: Severe Plagiarism

Scenario: Large sections copied verbatim, including figures.

Action: Immediate rejection; authors banned for future submissions; institution notified.

Acceptable vs. Unacceptable Similarity

FAQs on Plagiarism

Is self-plagiarism treated the same as other plagiarism?

Yes. Self-plagiarism is considered unethical unless properly cited.

Can authors reuse a figure they created earlier?

Yes, but only with citation and permission from the previous publisher if copyright was transferred.

Is similarity from reference sections counted?

No, standard referencing formats do not count toward similarity.

What should authors do if similarity is unavoidable?

Provide transparent citations and reduce textual overlap as much as possible.

Commitment to Research Integrity

CJOG is committed to maintaining a high standard of integrity. All stakeholders—authors, reviewers, editors, librarians, and funders—must work collectively to uphold these principles.