Plagiarism Check

Similarity and Plagiarism Screening Policy

Purpose and Scope

Al-Adzka: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Guru Madrasah Ibtidaiyah is committed to maintaining originality, academic integrity, and responsible scholarly publication. All manuscripts submitted to the journal are subject to similarity and plagiarism screening as part of the editorial evaluation process.

This policy applies to all manuscript components, including the title, abstract, main text, tables, figures, data, appendices, and supplementary materials. It covers plagiarism, inappropriate paraphrasing, unattributed copying, self-plagiarism, redundant publication, and unauthorised reuse of previously published materials.

Author Responsibilities

Authors must submit original work that has not been published previously and is not under consideration by another journal. Ideas, arguments, data, words, figures, tables, and other materials obtained from external sources must be properly cited and acknowledged.

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted materials where required. Reusing substantial portions of an author’s previously published work without appropriate citation or justification may be treated as self-plagiarism or redundant publication.

Authors are encouraged to conduct a similarity check before submission. However, they are not required to upload a similarity report unless specifically requested by the editor. The official screening will be conducted by the editorial team.

Screening Procedure

The editorial team screens submitted manuscripts using Turnitin or another recognised similarity-detection system. Initial screening is normally conducted during the preliminary editorial assessment and before the manuscript is forwarded for external peer review.

A manuscript may be screened again following substantial revision or before final acceptance. Additional screening may also be conducted when editors or reviewers identify possible unattributed overlap, duplicate publication, or other concerns regarding originality.

Similarity-detection software is used as an editorial support tool and does not independently determine whether plagiarism has occurred. Every report is examined by an editor to evaluate the source, location, extent, pattern, and nature of the matched material.

Interpretation of Similarity Reports

Al-Adzka applies an overall similarity threshold of 20% as a preliminary indicator. A manuscript with an overall similarity score above 20% may be returned for revision or rejected during the editorial screening stage.

However, editorial decisions are not based solely on the numerical similarity score. A score below 20% does not automatically establish originality, particularly when unattributed material appears in the research problem, theoretical argument, findings, interpretation, or conclusion.

Legitimate similarities may include properly cited quotations, reference lists, article titles, institutional names, standard technical expressions, established terminology, and unavoidable descriptions of common research procedures. These elements may be excluded where appropriate during the editorial assessment.

Editors will pay particular attention to continuous copied passages, inadequate paraphrasing, missing citations, similarities with a single source, reuse of previously published work, and overlap involving original data, results, tables, figures, or interpretations.

Editorial Actions

When limited or unintentional overlap is identified, the manuscript may be returned to the authors for correction, improved paraphrasing, proper attribution, or clarification before further editorial consideration.

When substantial unattributed overlap, inappropriate reuse, duplicate submission, or redundant publication is identified, the manuscript may be rejected without external peer review. Authors may also be asked to provide an explanation or relevant supporting documents.

Manuscripts involving systematic plagiarism, copied findings, unauthorised reproduction of data or figures, deliberate concealment of previous publication, or other serious violations of research integrity will be rejected. The journal may impose restrictions on future submissions and, where appropriate, refer the matter to the authors’ institutions or other relevant parties after appropriate editorial examination.

Similarity Identified During Peer Review

Reviewers who identify possible plagiarism, redundant publication, or inappropriate textual overlap should report the concern confidentially to the editor. Reviewers should not investigate the matter independently or contact the authors directly.

The editorial team will examine the concern, review the relevant sources, and determine the appropriate action in accordance with the journal’s Publication Ethics.

Post-Publication Cases

When plagiarism or substantial undisclosed overlap is discovered after publication, the journal will investigate the matter according to its publication ethics and post-publication correction policies.

Depending on the seriousness of the case, the journal may publish a correction, expression of concern, or retraction. Authors will normally be given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made, except when immediate action is necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

Confidentiality and Fair Assessment

Similarity reports and related correspondence are confidential editorial documents. Access is limited to authorised editors and other individuals involved in evaluating the case.

Authors may request clarification regarding a screening decision or submit an appeal supported by relevant evidence. Appeals and complaints will be handled according to the journal’s Appeals and Complaints Policy.

By submitting a manuscript to Al-Adzka, authors acknowledge and agree that their work may be screened for similarity, plagiarism, duplicate publication, and other forms of inappropriate textual or material reuse.