Plagiarism Policy

The Journal of Novel Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (JNPR) maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism. Upholding academic integrity is essential to the credibility of scientific publishing. JNPR follows international best practices as recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ICMJE, and WAME to prevent plagiarism and research misconduct.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s work, ideas, or words as one’s own without proper attribution. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Copying text, data, or figures directly from another source without citation.
  • Paraphrasing substantial parts of another work without acknowledgment.
  • Self-plagiarism (reusing one’s own previously published content without disclosure).
  • Improper citation or misrepresentation of original sources.
  • Using translated work from another language without crediting the original author.

Plagiarism Detection

All manuscripts submitted to JNPR undergo plagiarism screening before peer review using reliable plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate, or similar tools). The editorial office checks for:

  • Verbatim copying of text from previously published works.
  • Improper paraphrasing that fails to provide adequate attribution.
  • Overlap with conference papers, dissertations, or preprints.
  • Redundant or duplicate publication across journals.

Acceptable Similarity Levels

While minor overlaps in standard phrases or references are unavoidable, JNPR allows a similarity index of up to 15–20%, provided it does not include large continuous passages from a single source. Text similarity above this threshold is flagged for editorial review.

Handling Suspected Plagiarism

When plagiarism is detected:

  • Before Peer Review: The manuscript is returned to the author with a request to revise or provide proper citations.
  • During Peer Review: The editorial board may reject the submission outright if plagiarism is confirmed.
  • After Publication: If plagiarism is detected post-publication, the article will be retracted, and a formal notice will be issued on the journal’s website.

Author Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that:

  • The manuscript is entirely original and free from unattributed content.
  • All sources are accurately cited and referenced.
  • Permissions are obtained for any copyrighted material used.
  • Previously published work by the same authors is disclosed transparently to avoid redundant publication.

Editorial and Reviewer Responsibilities

  • Editors are responsible for screening manuscripts for plagiarism before peer review.
  • Reviewers are encouraged to report any suspected plagiarism during their evaluation.
  • The editorial team investigates all allegations of plagiarism following COPE flowcharts and procedures.

Consequences of Plagiarism

Depending on the severity, consequences may include:

  • Immediate rejection of the manuscript.
  • Retraction of published articles with public notice.
  • Ban on future submissions from the offending authors for a defined period.
  • Notification to authors’ institutions or funding agencies in cases of serious misconduct.

Tools and Resources

JNPR encourages authors to check their manuscripts for similarity before submission using plagiarism detection tools. Proper paraphrasing, accurate citation styles (e.g., Vancouver, APA, or journal-specific style), and ethical writing practices should be followed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is self-plagiarism considered misconduct?

Yes. Republishing or reusing one’s own previously published content without disclosure is treated as self-plagiarism and may lead to rejection or retraction.

What happens if plagiarism is unintentional?

Unintentional plagiarism (e.g., missing citations) may be corrected at the editorial stage. However, repeated or significant plagiarism will result in rejection or retraction.

Can figures or tables be reused?

Yes, provided proper permissions are obtained and the original source is cited.

What if plagiarism is discovered years after publication?

The article will still be retracted, and a retraction notice will be permanently linked to the DOI record to maintain academic integrity.