Plagiarism Policy

Efisiensi does not accept plagiarism in any form. This policy explains what counts as plagiarism, how similarity is checked, how findings are classified, and what happens when plagiarism is found.

Thresholds. Turnitin similarity ≤ 20% overall and ≤ 1% from any single source, excluding the reference list. The editor also reads the report: a low score does not prove originality, and a high score is examined before any decision.

1. What Counts as Plagiarism

  • Verbatim copying of text without quotation marks and citation.
  • Paraphrasing another's text or ideas without citation.
  • Translation plagiarism: translating another's work without citation.
  • Text recycling: reusing substantial parts of the authors' own published work without disclosure.
  • Duplicate publication: submitting work that has been published or is under review elsewhere.
  • Data or image plagiarism: using another's data, tables, figures, or instruments without permission and citation.

What is not considered plagiarism

  • Properly quoted and cited material.
  • Common phrases, standard method descriptions, and names of established instruments or theories.
  • Material from the authors' own thesis or conference paper that is disclosed at submission and cited.

2. Similarity Checking

2.1 When checks are made

  • At initial screening, before a manuscript is sent to reviewers.
  • Again after acceptance, before publication.
  • At any time after publication if a concern is raised.

2.2 Tools and records

The journal uses Turnitin. The similarity report is uploaded to the submission record in OJS so that the check can be verified.

2.3 Classification of findings

FindingDescriptionAction
Acceptable≤ 20% overall, ≤ 1% per source, and no copied passagesProceeds
MinorSlightly above the thresholds, or short uncited passages, mostly in background or method sectionsReturned to the authors for revision before review continues
SubstantialCopied paragraphs, uncited data or figures, or significant overlap with one sourceRejected; the authors are informed with the evidence
SeriousLarge-scale copying, duplicate publication, or repeated offencesRejected and handled under the Research Misconduct policy

3. Procedures

3.1 Before or during review

The editor reviews the report, classifies the finding, and returns or rejects the manuscript as shown above, with the relevant parts of the report.

3.2 After acceptance, before publication

Publication is put on hold. The authors are asked to explain and revise; if the plagiarism is substantial, the acceptance is withdrawn.

3.3 In a published article

The journal follows the COPE flowcharts: the authors are contacted and asked to respond within 30 days. Depending on the outcome, the journal publishes a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction (Correction and Retraction), and may inform the authors' institutions.

4. Sanctions

  • Rejection of the manuscript.
  • For substantial or serious cases, a ban on submissions by the responsible authors for up to three years.
  • Notification of the authors' institutions in serious cases.
  • Sanctions apply only to the responsible authors, never to other authors from the same institution.

5. How to Avoid Plagiarism

  • Keep track of every source as you write, and cite as you go.
  • Use quotation marks for exact words and cite the page number.
  • Paraphrase in your own words and structure, and still cite the source.
  • Disclose earlier versions of the work, such as theses or conference papers.
  • Check your manuscript with a similarity tool before submission.

Sources