Plagiarism Policy

EQUALS: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Matematika is committed to maintaining originality and academic integrity in scholarly publishing. This policy governs the definition of plagiarism, manuscript similarity screening, evaluation of similarity reports, and editorial actions concerning manuscripts suspected of plagiarism.

Plagiarism and Text Recycling

Plagiarism is the use of another person's ideas, words, data, research findings, images, tables, or other intellectual materials without appropriate acknowledgment or attribution. It may involve direct copying, paraphrasing without attribution, translation without acknowledgment of the original source, or presenting another person's ideas or findings as one's own.

EQUALS also prohibits inappropriate reuse of an author's own previously published work (self-plagiarism or text recycling), particularly when substantial portions are reused without appropriate citation, disclosure, or justification. Direct quotations, paraphrases, data, tables, figures, and other materials obtained from external sources must be properly acknowledged. Permission must also be obtained where required by applicable copyright or licensing terms.

Policies concerning duplicate publication, simultaneous submission to multiple journals, and other forms of publication misconduct are addressed in the journal's Publication Ethics policy.

Manuscript Similarity Screening

The EQUALS editorial team screens manuscripts using similarity-detection software, namely Turnitin, and manually examines identified sources. Screening is conducted during the initial editorial assessment and may be repeated during revision or before publication when necessary. Its purpose is to identify textual overlap and the use of materials requiring further examination.

EQUALS requires the overall manuscript similarity index to be below 20%. Manuscripts with an overall similarity index of 20% or higher do not meet the journal's similarity threshold and will be evaluated by the editor to determine the appropriate action.

Evaluation of Similarity Reports

The similarity percentage is not used as the sole basis for determining whether plagiarism has occurred. Editors assess Turnitin reports by considering:

  • The sources and context of the matching material.
  • The accuracy of citations and acknowledgment of original sources.
  • The extent and location of matching content within the manuscript.
  • Possible reuse of text or materials without appropriate disclosure.
  • The effect of the similarity on the manuscript's originality and scholarly contribution.

Similarity resulting from properly cited quotations, common technical terminology, standard methodological descriptions, or bibliographic information must be assessed in context. Such similarity does not automatically constitute plagiarism.

Conversely, a similarity index below 20% does not guarantee that a manuscript is free from plagiarism. Substantial unattributed copying, including in important sections such as the introduction, methods, results, or discussion, may still constitute misconduct even when the overall score is below the journal's threshold.

Actions Regarding Problematic Manuscripts

Depending on the screening results and the seriousness of the issue, the editor may:

  • Request clarification regarding the sources or sections showing similarity.
  • Return the manuscript for correction when the issue can be resolved through improved citations, paraphrasing, attribution, or other necessary changes.
  • Require another similarity screening after revision.
  • Reject the manuscript if substantive plagiarism or unauthorized use of materials that violates academic integrity is identified.

A manuscript with a similarity index of 20% or higher is not automatically deemed to contain plagiarism, but it does not meet the EQUALS similarity threshold. The decision to request revisions or reject the manuscript is based on editorial assessment. A manuscript with a similarity index below 20% may also be rejected if substantive plagiarism is identified.

Plagiarism Identified after Publication

If suspected plagiarism is identified after publication, the matter will be handled in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics policy, including the investigation of alleged misconduct and consideration of appropriate editorial action.

Reporting Suspected Plagiarism

Suspected plagiarism may be reported to the editorial office through the journal's Contact page or by email at [email protected]. Reports should identify the relevant manuscript or article by title and URL, describe the suspected plagiarism, and provide supporting evidence or sources where available. Reports will be assessed on the basis of the available information and evidence.