Plagiarism Policy

Journal of Innovation and Technology in Human Kinetics (J Innov Technol Hum Kinet) maintains a strict stance against all forms of plagiarism and textual misconduct. The journal accepts only original scholarly work and evaluates every submission through a combination of plagiarism-detection software and expert editorial assessment.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

Copying text, ideas, data, images, tables, or figures without proper citation
Reusing previously published content (self-plagiarism) without clear attribution or justification
Submitting work that is substantially similar to another publication
Presenting another researcher’s methods, analyses, or concepts as one’s own
Translating previously published work and submitting it as original research

Both intentional and unintentional plagiarism constitute academic misconduct.

2. Screening Procedures

All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism-detection software before entering peer review.
The editorial office evaluates:

Overall similarity percentage
Similarity in critical sections (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion)
Improperly quoted or uncited passages
Redundant text across an author’s previous publications

Similarity reports are reviewed manually to distinguish legitimate academic similarity (e.g., standard terminology) from unethical overlap.

3. Acceptable Similarity Threshold

While the journal does not enforce a rigid numerical cutoff, manuscripts with significant, unexplained overlap—particularly in the Results, Discussion, and unique analytical sections—are rejected immediately.

Minor similarity in methodological descriptions may be tolerated if appropriately cited and unavoidable for replicability.

4. Handling of Detected Plagiarism

If plagiarism is detected:

Before acceptance:

The manuscript is rejected outright, or
Authors may be invited to revise only if the overlap is limited and non-substantive.

After acceptance but before publication:

Acceptance may be withdrawn.
Authors must correct the problematic content to proceed.

After publication:

The journal follows COPE procedures, which may result in a:
- Correction notice, or
- Retraction, depending on severity.

The decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the Editorial Board.

5. Self-Plagiarism and Duplicate Submission

The journal prohibits:

Reuse of one’s previously published text without citation
Submission of a manuscript that is under review elsewhere
Republication of data or analyses without transparent disclosure

Authors must clearly identify overlapping datasets or previously published material in their cover letter.

6. Author Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that all submitted work is original and that all sources are properly credited. Third-party content (figures, images, datasets, instruments, questionnaires) requires formal permission when applicable.

By submitting a manuscript, authors affirm that:

The work is original
All necessary citations are included
No part of the manuscript has been plagiarized or improperly reused

7. Editorial and Reviewer Responsibilities

Editors and reviewers are expected to report any suspected plagiarism or text manipulation. All concerns are investigated confidentially and handled in accordance with international publication ethics guidelines.