Plagiarism and Similarity Policy

Al-Fateh Journal for Educational and Psychological Research is committed to protecting scholarly originality and preventing plagiarism and all forms of unauthorized use of the work of others. Freedom from plagiarism, duplicate publication, and undisclosed self-plagiarism is an essential condition for considering a manuscript for publication.

Plagiarism refers to the use, in whole or in part, of texts, ideas, data, findings, research instruments, tables, figures, or other published or unpublished materials belonging to others without proper scholarly acknowledgment or the required permission, and presenting them in a manner that suggests that they are the author’s original work.

Textual similarity does not, by itself, constitute conclusive evidence of plagiarism. Similarity may arise from properly cited quotations, names of instruments and scales, specialized terminology, standard methodological expressions, or reference lists. The journal therefore evaluates the nature, source, context, and effect of similarity on the manuscript’s originality and does not rely solely on a numerical similarity percentage.

First: Textual Similarity Screening

  1. All manuscripts submitted to the journal are screened for textual similarity using Turnitin or another system approved by the relevant official authorities.
  2. Screening is conducted before the manuscript is sent for scientific peer review. The manuscript may also be screened again after revision or before final publication.
  3. The Editorial Board analyzes the similarity report by considering:
    • The overall similarity percentage.
    • The level of similarity with each individual source.
    • The locations of the similar text within the manuscript.
    • The nature of the similar material and whether it has been properly acknowledged.
    • The presence of unacknowledged verbatim or near-verbatim copying.
    • The extent of the manuscript’s original scholarly contribution.
  4. Numerical similarity percentages serve only as preliminary indicators and do not, by themselves, constitute a final basis for acceptance or rejection.
  5. Screening results shall be interpreted according to the qualitative criteria stated in this policy. If the journal adopts official numerical thresholds, they must be published explicitly together with their source and effective date.

Second: Criteria for Evaluating Similarity

When reviewing a similarity report, the Editorial Board verifies that:

  1. The manuscript does not contain unacknowledged verbatim or near-verbatim copying, even when the overall similarity percentage is low.
  2. Similarity is not excessively or unjustifiably concentrated in a single source.
  3. Direct quotations are clearly identified and cited in accordance with the journal’s approved referencing style.
  4. Sources of ideas, data, research instruments, scales, tables, and figures are properly acknowledged.
  5. Reused or quoted material is clearly distinguished from the authors’ original scholarly contribution.
  6. Any substantial reuse of the authors’ previously published material has been clearly disclosed.

The journal recognizes the particular nature of educational and psychological research, which may include measurement instruments, questionnaires, scales, administration instructions, or commonly used methodological expressions. Such material must be properly cited, permission must be obtained when required, and it must not be presented as the authors’ original contribution.

Third: Forms of Plagiarism and Related Misconduct

Plagiarism and unauthorized use of scholarly content include:

  1. Complete plagiarism: Presenting another person’s work as the author’s own original work.
  2. Partial plagiarism: Copying portions of text, ideas, data, or findings from one or more sources without proper acknowledgment.
  3. Unacknowledged paraphrasing: Rewording another person’s text while retaining its ideas, structure, or meaning without citing the original source.
  4. Self-plagiarism: Reusing substantial portions of the author’s previously published work without proper citation or clear disclosure.
  5. Unauthorized reproduction of tables, figures, images, or instruments: Using materials belonging to others without acknowledgment or permission where permission is required.
  6. Misappropriation of ideas or data: Using unpublished ideas, data, or findings without the permission of their owners or proper acknowledgment.
  7. Unacknowledged translation: Translating text or scholarly material from one language into another and presenting it without citing the original source.
  8. Misleading citation: Attributing an idea or statement to a source that does not support it or citing a source that has not actually been consulted.

Duplicate publication, simultaneous submission, fabricated references, and data fabrication or falsification are treated as separate breaches of research integrity and are governed by the journal’s Publication Ethics Policy.

Fourth: Responsibilities of Authors

Authors bear full responsibility for the originality of their manuscripts and the accuracy of their citations. They must:

  1. Ensure that all texts, ideas, data, and materials taken from other sources are properly acknowledged.
  2. Place verbatim quotations within quotation marks and provide the source and page number where applicable.
  3. Cite paraphrased ideas and avoid merely changing words or sentence order without acknowledging the original source.
  4. Disclose any relationship between the submitted manuscript and previously published work, an academic thesis or dissertation, a conference paper, or an electronic repository version.
  5. Obtain the necessary permissions to use research instruments, scales, tables, figures, images, and copyrighted materials.
  6. Verify the accuracy of all references and refrain from including fabricated, unused, or irrelevant sources.
  7. Retain the data, documents, and sources on which the research is based and provide them upon a legitimate request.
  8. Cooperate with the Editorial Board and provide the necessary explanations when concerns arise regarding originality, citation, or research integrity.

Submission of a manuscript constitutes confirmation by all authors that the work is original, has not previously been published, and is not under simultaneous consideration by another publisher.

Fifth: Journal Procedures Before Publication

When unjustified similarity or suspected plagiarism is identified before publication, the Editorial Board may take one or more of the following actions:

  1. Request an explanation from the authors concerning the sources of similarity or the reuse of previously published material.
  2. Return the manuscript to the authors to correct citations, rewrite the relevant passages, or remove the problematic material.
  3. Request copies of the relevant sources, data, or permissions associated with the material under review.
  4. Conduct a new similarity screening after the required revisions have been completed.
  5. Suspend peer review or publication procedures until the matter has been resolved.
  6. Reject the manuscript when substantial plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unauthorized use of the work of others is established.
  7. Refer the matter to the relevant academic or institutional authority when the violation is serious or requires an investigation beyond the journal’s responsibility.

A manuscript shall not be sent for peer review or granted final acceptance until concerns relating to similarity and originality have been addressed satisfactorily.

Sixth: Journal Procedures After Publication

When plagiarism is alleged or misconduct is identified after publication, the Editorial Board shall:

  1. Conduct an initial assessment of the allegation and the evidence submitted.
  2. Review the article, its sources, similarity reports, and relevant editorial records.
  3. Give the authors a reasonable opportunity to submit a formal response and explanation.
  4. Consult an independent expert or contact the authors’ institution when necessary.
  5. Maintain the confidentiality of the process and avoid publicizing unsubstantiated allegations.

Depending on the findings and seriousness of the violation, the journal may:

  1. Publish a correction when the problem is limited and does not substantially affect the manuscript’s originality or the reliability of its findings.
  2. Issue an expression of concern when serious concerns exist but the investigation has not yet reached a final conclusion.
  3. Retract the article when substantial plagiarism, duplicate publication, extensive unauthorized reuse of content, or another violation renders the article unreliable.
  4. Inform the relevant academic institution or competent authority when warranted by the nature of the violation.

A retraction notice must be clear, reasoned, and electronically linked to the original article. The article shall remain in the electronic record with a clear indication that it has been retracted, in order to preserve the transparency of the scholarly record.

Seventh: Reporting Plagiarism

The journal accepts reports concerning plagiarism or misuse of scholarly content through the official channels published on its website.

A report should include, as far as possible:

  1. The title of the manuscript or article concerned and its link or DOI.
  2. Identification of the text, data, figures, or other material suspected of being improperly used.
  3. The original source or work with which substantial similarity is alleged.
  4. Any supporting evidence, documents, or links.

The journal handles all reports confidentially and professionally and uses the information provided solely to investigate the matter and take appropriate action. Anonymous reports may be considered when they contain clear and verifiable evidence.

Eighth: Complaints and Reconsideration

Relevant parties may submit a complaint regarding the application of this policy or request reconsideration of an action taken in accordance with the journal’s published Complaints Policy.

Submitting a complaint or report in good faith shall not result in unfair treatment. The journal may close complaints or reports that are malicious, abusive, or unsupported by verifiable information.