Plagiarism

PLAGIARISM / DATA SHARING AND REPRODUCIBILITY

The International Journal of Sexual Science requires authors to affirm that the manuscript submitted for publication is original. All submitted manuscript types undergo a plagiarism check using iThenticate, a recognized tool for detecting similarities in scholarly work (Abstract and references excluded). The similarity rate should be below 20%. If the similarity rate exceeds this threshold or if there is suspicion of prior publication, the editorial board will follow the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (Text recycling guidelines for editors | COPE: Committee on Publication Ethics).

If a manuscript shows a similarity rate of more than 20%, the Editor (s) retain the right to reject the submission. When determining whether to take action, editors will consider whether the manuscript significantly overlaps with a previous publication and assess the potential impact on the originality and relevance of the content for the journal's target audience.

In certain sections of a manuscript, limited text recycling may be unavoidable. In the introduction or background, or method section reusing established ideas is acceptable, particularly in a series of related works. However, authors are advised to minimize unnecessary repetition, and the duplication of hypotheses should generally be limited to studies that are closely interconnected.

Authors must acknowledge when methods have been previously described and include appropriate references to ensure compliance with ethical standards. Proper citation of original sources is essential, though citation alone does not justify extensive duplication.

Text recycling is discouraged in scientific publications, particularly in the results section, where duplicating previously published data without justification may constitute redundant publication. In cases where previously published data is necessary, such as for extending prior research, authors must transparently disclose the duplication, ensure proper attribution, and comply with copyright requirements.

While some degree of text recycling may be acceptable in the discussion section, it should not overshadow the interpretation of the current study's results or misrepresent old ideas as original.
Similarly, reproducing figures or tables without justification or proper permissions may lead to data duplication or copyright infringement, requiring authors to secure permissions and offer clear attributions to maintain ethical and academic standards.

Authors have to prioritize originality in their manuscripts while adhering to these guidelines to maintain the integrity of their work and the credibility of the journal.

 

For further reference on handling issues related to plagiarism, similarity, and manuscript originality, please refer to COPE guidelines: COPE Council. All flowcharts. https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.2.26