Plagiarism Policy

The Universal Journal of Humanities and Multi-Disciplinary Studies (UJHMDS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical publishing. The journal considers plagiarism and related forms of academic misconduct to be serious violations of scholarly ethics and reserves the right to take appropriate editorial action whenever such misconduct is identified.

Types of Plagiarism

UJHMDS recognizes several forms of plagiarism, including but not limited to:

  1. Direct Plagiarism

Copying text, figures, tables, images, data, or ideas from another source word-for-word without proper citation, quotation, or acknowledgment.

  1. Mosaic (Patchwork) Plagiarism

Borrowing phrases, sentence structures, or ideas from multiple sources and blending them into a manuscript without appropriate attribution.

  1. Paraphrasing Plagiarism

Rewriting another author's work using different words while retaining the original meaning without proper citation or acknowledgment.

  1. Self-Plagiarism

Reusing substantial portions of one's own previously published work, including text, data, figures, or findings, without proper disclosure, citation, or editorial approval.

  1. Data and Research Misappropriation

Presenting fabricated, falsified, manipulated, or improperly borrowed research data, results, observations, or analyses as original work.

Any of these practices constitute academic misconduct and are inconsistent with the publication standards of UJHMDS.

Similarity Assessment Procedure

All manuscripts submitted to UJHMDS may be evaluated using recognized similarity-detection systems such as:

  • Turnitin
  • iThenticate
  • Crossref Similarity Check
  • PlagScan
  • Similarity Check Services approved by the Editorial Board

Similarity reports are reviewed by the editorial team in conjunction with academic judgment.

The journal recognizes that certain overlaps may arise from:

  • References and bibliographies
  • Standard terminology
  • Common definitions
  • Methodological descriptions
  • Properly quoted material

Therefore, editorial decisions are not based solely on numerical similarity percentages.

Similarity Guidelines

As a general editorial guideline:

  • Up to 15% similarity may be acceptable when properly contextualized.
  • Similarity between 15% and 25% may require revision, clarification, or correction.
  • Similarity exceeding 25% may result in rejection or further investigation.

The Editorial Board retains full discretion in evaluating the nature, location, and significance of any overlap.

Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts to UJHMDS are expected to:

  • Submit original scholarly work.
  • Properly acknowledge all sources of information.
  • Cite published and unpublished materials appropriately.
  • Obtain permission for copyrighted content where required.
  • Ensure the authenticity of data, findings, and interpretations.
  • Disclose any prior dissemination of related work.

Submission of a manuscript constitutes the author's declaration that the work complies with the journal's originality requirements.

Editorial Actions

If originality concerns are identified, UJHMDS may take one or more of the following actions:

Prior to Publication

  • Request clarification or revision.
  • Return the manuscript for correction.
  • Suspend the review process.
  • Reject the manuscript.

After Publication

  • Publish a correction notice.
  • Issue an editorial statement.
  • Retract the article when warranted.
  • Update the scholarly record to maintain accuracy and integrity.

In serious cases, the journal may notify relevant institutions, funding agencies, or academic authorities when deemed necessary.

Commitment to Academic Integrity

UJHMDS supports responsible scholarship, intellectual honesty, and ethical research practices. The journal continuously works to preserve the credibility of the scholarly record and to ensure that published research reflects genuine academic contribution and originality.

Policy Updates

This policy may be revised periodically to reflect developments in scholarly publishing, technological advancements, and international best practices relating to originality assessment and research integrity.

Any updates will be published through the official UJHMDS journal platform.

Universal Journal of Humanities and Multi-Disciplinary Studies (UJHMDS)

Publisher: Wissira Research Lab

Publication Type: International Peer-Reviewed Open Access Journal