Plagiarism Policy

The Bangladesh Journal of Advanced Clinical Research (BJACR) maintains an unwavering commitment to academic integrity, originality, and excellence in scholarly publishing. Plagiarism, in all its forms, is regarded as a serious breach of research ethics and will not be tolerated. This policy defines plagiarism, sets clear responsibilities for authors, reviewers, and editors, explains the detection process, and outlines the consequences and corrective measures for violations.

 

  1. Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the unethical use of another person’s intellectual output—words, ideas, images, data, or methods—without proper acknowledgment. BJACR recognizes multiple forms of plagiarism:

  • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text, figures, or tables word-for-word without quotation marks or citation. Even short identical phrases may be unacceptable if unattributed.
  • Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting another’s work with superficial changes in wording or sentence structure but retaining the original meaning without citation.
  • Self-Plagiarism (Redundant or Duplicate Publication): Republishing one’s own previously published work or reusing substantial portions (e.g., data, figures, text) without referencing the original source. This includes simultaneous submissions to multiple journals.
  • Mosaic Plagiarism: Piecing together ideas, sentences, or phrases from various sources without proper acknowledgment.
  • Data or Image Misappropriation: Presenting datasets, research findings, or visual materials (figures, charts, images) from other researchers as one’s own, without permission or credit.
  • Improper Use of AI-Generated Text: Submitting AI-generated text that reproduces or paraphrases published content without citation is considered plagiarism.
  • Unattributed Translation Plagiarism: Translating another’s work into a different language without citation of the original source.

 

  1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors bear the primary responsibility for ensuring that all submitted manuscripts are original and ethically prepared.

  • Originality Requirement: Manuscripts must be completely original, unpublished, and not under simultaneous consideration elsewhere. Submitting previously published work or sections of it without acknowledgment is a violation.
  • Similarity Threshold:
    • Acceptable overall similarity is generally ≤10% (excluding references, methodology, and common phrases).
    • No single source should exceed 5% similarity.
    • AI-assisted paraphrasing that mimics existing text without citation will be treated as plagiarism.
  • Proper Attribution: Authors must cite all sources of information, data, and ideas accurately using the journal’s referencing style. Figures, tables, and images from other works require proper permissions.
  • Ethical Declaration: At submission, authors must provide a signed plagiarism declaration affirming that:
    • The work is original.
    • Proper acknowledgment has been given for all sources.
    • No part of the manuscript has been plagiarized or previously published.
  • Data Transparency: If authors use previously published datasets (their own or others), this must be explicitly acknowledged and appropriately cited.

]

  1. Detection of Plagiarism

BJACR employs a two-stage detection process:

  • Software Screening: All manuscripts undergo similarity checks using advanced plagiarism detection tools such as iThenticate or Turnitin. Reports highlight overlapping text, which is reviewed carefully by editors.
  • Editorial Assessment:
    • Minor overlap in standard methods, references, or technical terminology may be acceptable.
    • Overlap in introduction, discussion, or conclusions is closely scrutinized.
    • Any suspicious figures, tables, or images are checked for authenticity and duplication.
  • Reviewer Vigilance: Reviewers are encouraged to report suspected plagiarism (with evidence) during the peer review process.

]

  1. Handling Plagiarism Cases (Pre-Publication)

Plagiarism is addressed depending on its severity:

  • Minor Overlap (≤10%): Manuscript is returned to authors with a request to revise, cite missing references, and re-submit.
  • Moderate Plagiarism (11–15%): Manuscript is rejected. Authors are advised to thoroughly revise before re-submission. A formal warning may be issued.
  • Major Plagiarism (>15%): Manuscript is rejected outright and authors may be barred from submitting for a fixed period (2–5 years). The authors’ institution and/or funder may be notified in serious cases.
  • Duplicate Submission: If detected, the manuscript is rejected immediately, and sanctions may be imposed.

 

  1. Post-Publication Actions

If plagiarism is identified after publication:

  • Corrections (Errata): Minor unintentional plagiarism (e.g., missed citations) may be corrected by publishing an erratum or corrigendum.
  • Retractions: Articles with confirmed serious plagiarism will be formally retracted. Retraction notices will remain linked to the original article to maintain a transparent scholarly record.
  • Institutional Notification: In cases of deliberate, large-scale plagiarism, the authors’ affiliated institutions, supervisors, or funding agencies will be informed.
  • Public Disclosure: Retraction or correction notices are openly displayed on the journal website and indexed in bibliographic databases.

 

  1. Consequences for Authors
  • Immediate Rejection: Manuscripts found plagiarized will be rejected without review.
  • Publication Ban: Authors guilty of major plagiarism may face a ban from submitting to BJACR for a fixed duration (minimum 2 years) or permanently for repeated misconduct.
  • Loss of Editorial Roles: Authors serving as reviewers or editors found guilty of plagiarism may be removed from their roles.
  • Institutional Reporting: Serious or repeated violations may be reported to universities, research institutions, and funding agencies.

 

  1. Role of Reviewers and Editors
  • Reviewers:
    • Must remain vigilant and alert the editorial office if plagiarism is suspected.
    • Should provide evidence (e.g., source comparisons) when reporting overlap.
  • Editors:
    • Must evaluate similarity reports fairly and consistently.
    • Communicate findings to authors with confidentiality and professionalism.
    • Apply sanctions following COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.
    • Ensure decisions are unbiased and based solely on ethical and academic standards.

 

  1. Education and Awareness

BJACR recognizes the importance of prevention through education:

  • Author Support:
    • Guidelines and resources are provided to authors on how to properly cite, reference, and paraphrase.
    • Workshops and guidance documents on research integrity may be organized.
  • Reviewer Training:
    • Reviewers receive periodic instructions on identifying plagiarism and ethical breaches.
  • Capacity Building:
    • The journal encourages awareness programs in collaboration with academic institutions to promote ethical publishing practices.