Sekolah Dasar: Kajian Teori dan Praktik Pendidikan requires all submitted manuscripts to be original and appropriately acknowledge the work of others. Plagiarism, inappropriate text recycling, and the unauthorized use of others’ intellectual contributions are unacceptable. This policy applies to submitted manuscripts and published articles.
Definition and Scope
Plagiarism includes presenting another person’s words, ideas, data, findings, images, tables, instruments, or other intellectual contributions as one’s own without appropriate acknowledgment or permission where required. It may include:
Copying text without appropriate quotation and citation.
Paraphrasing another source too closely or replacing selected words while retaining its structure without adequate attribution.
Translating material from another language and presenting it without acknowledging the original source.
Using another person’s data, images, tables, research instruments, or ideas without appropriate acknowledgment or required permission.
Submitting work produced by another person as one’s own.
Citing a source does not, by itself, justify reproducing its wording without appropriate quotation or reproducing copyrighted material without permission where required.
Similarity Screening
The journal uses Turnitin and/or Plagiarism Checker X to assist in identifying textual overlap. Screening is conducted during the initial editorial assessment and may be repeated after revision or before publication.
The journal normally expects an overall similarity score of no more than 20%. This threshold is an editorial screening indicator, not a definitive measure of plagiarism or an automatic acceptance or rejection criterion.
A score below 20% does not establish that a manuscript is free from plagiarism. A score above 20% does not, by itself, establish misconduct. Editors will assess the nature, extent, location, and attribution of the overlap, including substantial overlap with a single source.
Where supported by the screening tool, reference lists, properly marked quotations, and insignificant matches may be excluded using documented settings. Exclusions must not be used to conceal substantive overlap.
Editorial Assessment
Editors will examine similarity reports in context, distinguishing inappropriate copying from legitimate similarities such as standard terminology, correctly attributed quotations, or necessary descriptions of established methods.
Greater concern may arise where overlap affects the manuscript’s original contribution, including its results, interpretation, or conclusions. Non-textual plagiarism and translated plagiarism may require assessment beyond automated similarity screening.
Authors must not manipulate wording, formatting, characters, or files to evade detection. Revision must address the underlying attribution or originality problem rather than merely reduce the similarity percentage.
Text Recycling and Previous Dissemination
Authors must disclose and appropriately cite relevant previous publications and explain how the submitted manuscript makes a distinct contribution. Reuse of an author’s own published material must be assessed in relation to its extent, location, transparency, copyright conditions, and the journal’s requirements on originality and redundant publication.
Previous dissemination through a thesis, preprint, institutional repository, or conference material must be disclosed and assessed under the journal’s applicable submission policies. Similarity to such material does not, by itself, establish plagiarism or determine eligibility for publication.
Handling Suspected Plagiarism
Where concerns arise, the editor will assess the available evidence and may request clarification, source materials, or revision. Authors will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond.
Minor attribution problems may be addressed through correction before further consideration. Substantial plagiarism, deliberate concealment, or unresolved concerns may lead to rejection. Where appropriate, the journal may contact the authors’ institution or other responsible bodies.
Concerns involving published articles will be handled under the journal’s Complaints, Appeals, and Research Misconduct Procedures and Correction & Retraction Policies, with reference to relevant COPE guidance. Depending on the evidence and seriousness of the issue, action may include a correction, expression of concern, or retraction.
Decisions will be based on editorial assessment of the evidence, not solely on a similarity score. Authors may appeal in accordance with the journal’s appeals procedure.
