Anti-plagiarism policy

Anti-plagiarism policy

ANTI-PLAGIARISM POLICY OF THE JOURNAL “PODSTAWY EDUKACJI”

 

  1. Purpose and scope of the policy

The journal “Podstawy Edukacji” applies a zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism and all forms of academic misconduct. The purpose of the anti-plagiarism policy is to ensure high-quality publications, protect intellectual property, ensure transparency in the publishing process, and promote sound research practices.

This policy applies to all submitted materials, in particular research articles, research reports, case studies, literature reviews, academic essays and reviews.

  1. Definitions and forms of misconduct

The following, in particular, are considered breaches of publication ethics:

  • plagiarism – the appropriation of the authorship of all or part of another person’s work (texts, concepts, data, diagnostic tools, illustrations) without properly citing the source.
  • self-plagiarism (duplicate publication) – the reuse of one’s own previously published content without disclosing it and citing it appropriately, including so-called ‘salami slicing’.
  • paraphrasing without attribution – the use of another person’s ideas or the structure of their argument without indicating the source.
  • translation without citing the source – the translation of another person’s text, in whole or in part, without specifying the original source and without the required permission, where necessary.
  • unauthorised use of materials – the use of tables, charts, photographs, research tools or data without the required permissions.
  • manipulation of citations – selective, excessive or inappropriate citation in a manner that is misleading.
  • fabrication and falsification of data – creating fictitious data or manipulating research results.
  • undisclosed dual submission – submitting the same text to more than one journal simultaneously.

Limited use of previously published sections (e.g. a description of the methodology) is permitted, provided they are clearly identified and cited.

  1. Authors’ declarations and responsibility

Submission of a manuscript implies that the authors:

  • guarantee the originality of the work,
  • confirm that there is no parallel submission,
  • correctly cite all sources,
  • hold the rights to the materials used,
  • disclose the contributions of the authors (in accordance with the principles of transparency),
  • rule out ghostwriting and guest authorship.

The authors bear full responsibility for the lawful use of photographs, graphic materials, tables, charts, maps and other copyright-protected materials.

The corresponding author is responsible for communication with the Editorial Board and for the accuracy of the declarations.

  1. Prior publication

Submissions of works previously made available as:

  • preprints,
  • materials in repositories,
  • conference presentations,

are permitted, provided that such prior publication does not infringe copyright or breach the terms and conditions of the publisher or platform.

The author is also required to disclose this fact and indicate the source of the prior publication.

In the event of the article’s publication, the author is required to update the information in the repository and indicate where the text has been published.

  1. Use of AI tools

The use of AI tools is permitted solely in a supporting capacity (e.g. language editing, translation), provided that:

  • the author bears full responsibility for the content,
  • the use of AI is disclosed (where relevant),
  • AI tools are not listed as authors.

It is not permitted to use AI to:

  • generate research data or results,
  • create fictitious sources or citations,
  • generate fictitious bibliographic references,
  • prepare academic content without substantive review by the author.
  1. Plagiarism Check

All texts are analysed using the Crossref Similarity Check – iThenticate system, in accordance with the following principles:

  • the similarity report is for guidance only,
  • no rigid percentage thresholds are applied,
  • the context of borrowings is taken into account,
  • a high degree of similarity to a single source is subject to particular scrutiny,
  • correctly cited references do not constitute an infringement.

The similarity report is analysed by the line editor (the editor responsible for the manuscript in question), who makes the initial editorial decision. In cases of doubt or serious infringements, the decision is consulted with the editor-in-chief. Where justified, the Editorial Board may seek the opinion of an additional reviewer or a member of the scientific council.

  1. Detailed procedures carried out in accordance with COPE guidelines

Suspected plagiarism:

  1. suspension of the procedure,
  2. analysis of the report,
  3. contact with the author,
  4. editorial decision.

Suspected self-plagiarism:

  1. assessment of the extent of repetition,
  2. verification of previous publications,
  3. decision: revision / rejection.

Suspected data manipulation

  1. analysis of the consistency of results,
  2. possibility of requesting source data,
  3. expert consultation.

Disputes over authorship

  1. written statements required from all parties,
  2. possible suspension of the process pending clarification.

Each case is documented in the editorial records in accordance with confidentiality rules.

  1. Decisions and sanctions

If a breach is confirmed, the Editorial Board may:

  • require corrections and additions to citations,
  • reject the manuscript in the event of a significant breach,
  • withdraw the publication,
  • publish an editorial note in the event of doubts requiring further verification,
  • notify the author’s affiliated institution,
  • notify the research funding body,
  • impose a temporary ban on publication.
  1. Post-publication breaches

Procedures in accordance with COPE include:

  • publication of a corrigendum by the Editorial Board,
  • publication of an ‘expression of concern’ by the Editorial Board,
  • retraction of the article by the Editorial Board.

Information regarding the retraction of a publication remains publicly available and is appropriately marked.

  1. The role of editors and reviewers

Editors and reviewers are obliged to:

  • report suspected breaches,
  • maintain confidentiality,
  • avoid conflicts of interest.

Editors and reviewers are obliged not to disclose the content of manuscripts or the details of their assessment to unauthorised persons.

  1. Right of appeal

The author has the right to appeal against the Editorial Board’s decision within 14 days.

The appeal must state the grounds for the appeal and will be considered by the Editor-in-Chief and, if necessary, an independent member of the Scientific Council.

  1. Reporting breaches

In matters concerning suspected breaches of publication ethics, please contact the Editorial Board at: pe@ujd.edu.pl

The Editorial Board guarantees the confidentiality of all reports.

  1. Ethical standards

This policy is based on the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and international publishing standards.