Plagiarism & Similarity Policy

The Celebes Nursing Journal (CNJ) is committed to ensuring that all published content maintains the highest standards of originality, scholarly integrity, and ethical authorship. Plagiarism undermines the credibility of academic work, violates ethical norms, and damages the trust that underpins scientific communication. CNJ therefore implements a strict, multi-layered plagiarism and similarity policy designed to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to all forms of unethical text or data reuse.
All submitted manuscripts undergo similarity screening using reputable detection tools such as Turnitin or iThenticate. These checks enable editors to identify potential overlap with previously published work, whether textual, conceptual, or data-related. Although similarity percentages may serve as initial indicators, editorial decisions rely on qualitative assessment and contextual interpretation, in line with COPE best practices. CNJ recognizes various forms of plagiarism including direct plagiarism, mosaic plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data plagiarism, and duplicate publication as serious ethical violations.
This policy outlines the procedures for similarity evaluation, the types of plagiarism recognized by CNJ, and the actions taken when plagiarism is identified. Consequences may include revision requests, manuscript rejection, post-publication corrections, retractions, notifications to institutional authorities, or restrictions on future submissions. By enforcing these standards, CNJ safeguards the integrity of its scholarly record and ensures that all published work reflects honest and responsible authorship.

1. Plagiarism & Similarity Policy
The CNJ enforces a strict, zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism and unethical reuse of text, ideas, or data. Authors submitting manuscripts to CNJ are responsible for ensuring that all content is original, properly cited, and ethically produced. This policy outlines CNJ’s approach to similarity screening, the forms of plagiarism recognized, and the procedures used to address suspected violations. CNJ’s practices align with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

2. Similarity Checking
Similarity detection is an essential step in CNJ's editorial workflow. The goal is to identify overlapping text, duplicated concepts, or reused data and to evaluate whether such overlap constitutes acceptable scholarly practice or unethical plagiarism.

Screening Procedures
All manuscripts undergo similarity screening using Turnitin, iThenticate, or equivalent tools prior to peer review. Reports are evaluated by editors to assess:

Textual overlap
Source of overlapping content
Contextual relevance
Adequacy of citations

Thresholds and Editorial Interpretation
Similarity thresholds serve as preliminary indicators, not absolute criteria.
General guidelines:

Overall similarity above ~20% may require further assessment.
Single-source similarity >5–10% is scrutinized more closely.
Quoted text, references, and methodological boilerplate may be excluded from calculations.

Editors evaluate qualitative aspects:

Is the overlapping section methodological or conceptual?
Is proper citation present?
Does the overlap change scientific interpretation?

Author Responsibilities
Authors must:

Ensure originality before submission
Run internal plagiarism checks when possible
Revise and properly attribute reused content
Disclose prior publication of overlapping materials

3. Forms of Plagiarism
CNJ recognizes multiple forms of plagiarism, all of which constitute serious ethical violations. Both intentional and unintentional plagiarism are treated as misconduct.

Direct Plagiarism
Verbatim copying of text from another source without quotation marks or proper citation.

Mosaic (Patchwork) Plagiarism
Reproducing ideas, phrases, or structures by making superficial changes while retaining the original meaning or argument.

Self-Plagiarism
Reusing substantial parts of one’s own previously published work without appropriate citation or transparency, including:

Reusing text or data
Publishing similar analyses in multiple venues
Duplicating results without disclosure

Data, Image, or Figure Plagiarism
Using data, tables, photographs, graphics, or figures created by others without permission or proper attribution.

Redundant/Duplicate Publication
Submitting or publishing materially similar content in multiple journals without clear disclosure or justification.

Idea Plagiarism
Presenting another individual’s novel concepts, research questions, models, or conclusions as one’s own. All forms are treated as violations irrespective of author intent.

4. Actions in Case of Plagiarism
CNJ responds to plagiarism according to the severity and context of the violation. Actions follow COPE guidelines and aim to protect the scholarly record while ensuring fair treatment of authors.

Before Acceptance
Minor Overlap (e.g., limited text duplication in background or methods): Authors may be asked to revise the manuscript, improve citations, or rewrite overlapping sections.
Moderate or Significant Overlap (e.g., improperly cited paraphrasing, repeated text): Manuscript may be returned for major revision or rejected.
Severe Plagiarism / Duplicate Submission (e.g., large verbatim sections, duplicated data):

Immediate rejection
Possible ban on future submissions
Notification to institution (for egregious cases)

After Publication
When plagiarism is detected post-publication, CNJ may take the following actions:
Corrections (Errata or Corrigenda). For minor issues that do not alter the scientific findings.
Expressions of Concern. When concerns exist but evidence is inconclusive or under investigation.
Retractions. Issued when unethical reuse significantly compromises: originality, validity, ethical compliance, or author credibility.
Retraction notices:

Remain permanently accessible
Are linked to the original article
Clearly explain the reasons

Reporting to Institutions
In cases of severe or repeated misconduct, CNJ may notify:

The authors’ institutions
Research funders
Relevant regulatory bodies

Author Rights During Investigation

Authors may provide explanations or evidence.
Investigations follow due process and confidentiality.
Final decisions follow COPE standards.

5. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers
Preventing plagiarism is a shared responsibility. Editors and reviewers are essential in detecting irregularities beyond what automated tools can identify.
Editors Must:

Carefully review similarity reports
Evaluate contextual relevance of overlapping text
Ensure consistent application of the policy
Follow cope flowcharts for suspected plagiarism
Maintain confidentiality during investigations

Reviewers Should:

Report suspected plagiarism
Identify missing citations
Highlight duplicated or suspicious content
Avoid using manuscript content for personal research

6. Transparency and Editorial Accountability
CNJ prioritizes transparency in addressing plagiarism concerns while protecting all parties involved.
CNJ ensures:

Clear communication with authors
Documentation of all investigative steps
Consistent adherence to cope guidelines
Publication of corrections or retractions when appropriate

7. Prevention and Education
Beyond detection and enforcement, CNJ supports the prevention of plagiarism through education and awareness.
CNJ encourages authors to: