Plagiarism Policy

  1. Definition of Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's words, ideas, or work without proper acknowledgment or citation, presenting it as one's own original work. This includes, but is not limited to, copying text, images, data, or concepts without permission or attribution.
  2. Originality Requirement: Authors submitting manuscripts to Gomal Journal of Life Sciences must ensure that their work is original and has not been previously published elsewhere. Any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism (reuse of one's own work without proper citation), will not be tolerated.
  3. Plagiarism Detection: All submitted manuscripts will undergo rigorous plagiarism detection using reliable software tools. Similarity checks will be conducted to identify any instances of plagiarism or improper citation. Authors found to have engaged in plagiarism will face appropriate actions as outlined in this policy.
  4. Types of Plagiarism: Plagiarism can take various forms, including but not limited to:
  • Direct Plagiarism: Verbatim copying of someone else's work without attribution.
  • Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting someone else's work without proper citation.
  • Mosaic Plagiarism: Piecing together phrases or sentences from different sources without proper acknowledgment.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Recycling one's own previously published work without proper citation.
  1. Consequences of Plagiarism: Authors found to have committed plagiarism in their submitted manuscripts will face the following consequences:
  • Immediate rejection of the manuscript.
  • Notification to the author's affiliated institution or employer.
  • Prohibition from submitting to Gomal Journal of Life Sciences for a specified period.
  • Blacklisting of the author's name, if plagiarism is severe or repeated.
  1. Responsibility of Authors: Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality of their work and providing proper citations for any previously published materials or ideas. They must acknowledge all sources used in their manuscript, including text, figures, tables, and data.
  2. Editorial Handling of Plagiarism Cases: If plagiarism is detected in a submitted manuscript:
  • The Editor-in-Chief will notify the corresponding author and provide evidence of the detected plagiarism.
  • The corresponding author will be given an opportunity to respond to the plagiarism allegations.
  • Depending on the severity and extent of plagiarism, the manuscript may be rejected outright or returned to the authors for revision and proper citation.
  • In cases of severe plagiarism, the authors' institutions or employers may be notified, and further actions may be taken as deemed necessary.
  1. Appeals Process: Authors who believe that they have been wrongly accused of plagiarism may appeal the decision by providing evidence to support their claim. Appeals will be reviewed by the Editorial Board, and decisions will be made based on the provided evidence and the journal's plagiarism policy.
  2. Education and Prevention: Gomal Journal of Life Sciences is committed to educating authors about plagiarism and promoting responsible research conduct. Authors are encouraged to familiarize themselves with ethical guidelines for academic publishing and to seek guidance if unsure about proper citation practices.