Global Journal of Multidisciplinary and Applied Sciences (GJMAS) considers plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct to be serious violations of publication ethics. Plagiarism includes copying another person's ideas, text, data, results, figures, tables, graphs, or other creative work and presenting it as original without appropriate acknowledgment and citation.

Self-plagiarism occurs when authors substantially reuse material from their own previously published work without appropriate citation, disclosure, or justification. This may also include submitting a previously published manuscript with modifications, additional data, or minor changes while presenting it as a new and original publication.

GJMAS has a zero-tolerance approach toward plagiarism and academic misconduct. All manuscripts submitted to the journal may undergo plagiarism and similarity screening using Turnitin or an equivalent plagiarism-detection system before or during the editorial and peer-review process.

Manuscripts identified as containing substantial plagiarism or inappropriate duplication may be rejected at the editorial screening stage and may not proceed to peer review.

If plagiarism or substantial duplication is identified after acceptance or publication, GJMAS may initiate an investigation and take appropriate corrective or disciplinary action in accordance with the seriousness of the case and recognized publication-ethics principles.

Types of Plagiarism

GJMAS considers, among others, the following forms of plagiarism:

1. Full Plagiarism

Full plagiarism occurs when a manuscript, substantial portions of a manuscript, or its intellectual content is reproduced from an existing publication without appropriate attribution. This includes presenting another author's work or previously published work as original.

2. Partial Plagiarism

Partial plagiarism occurs when substantial portions of text, ideas, data, figures, tables, or other material are taken from one or more sources and incorporated into a manuscript without proper acknowledgment. Extensive paraphrasing or rearrangement of copied material does not remove the requirement for appropriate citation.

3. Self-Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism occurs when authors reuse substantial portions of their own previously published work without appropriate citation, disclosure, or permission where required.

Duplicate publication or redundant publication may also constitute academic misconduct where substantially the same research is published or submitted to multiple journals without proper disclosure.

Policy and Action for Plagiarism

GJMAS respects and protects intellectual property and is committed to promoting originality, research integrity, and responsible scholarly communication. Authors submitting manuscripts to GJMAS are expected to comply with recognized ethical standards and to ensure that their submissions are original.

By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that:

• The manuscript represents original work.
• All sources and previously published material have been properly cited.
• Any reused material has been appropriately acknowledged, and, where necessary, permission has been obtained.
• The manuscript has not been published elsewhere.
• The manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.
• The authors have disclosed any relevant previous publication or related manuscript where appropriate.

Investigation of Suspected Plagiarism

If plagiarism is suspected in a submitted, accepted, or published manuscript, GJMAS may contact the corresponding author and request a written explanation and supporting information.

Where necessary, the matter may be referred to the editor-in-chief, editorial board, or an appropriate fact-finding committee for further investigation.

Authors may be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to allegations before a final editorial decision is made, except where immediate action is necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

If the authors fail to provide an adequate response, GJMAS may contact the author's institution, university, employer, research organization, or funding body, where appropriate.

Action in Cases of Confirmed Plagiarism

If an investigation confirms significant plagiarism or other serious publication misconduct, GJMAS may take one or more of the following actions, depending on the circumstances:

1. Rejection of the Manuscript:
   A manuscript under consideration may be immediately rejected and removed from further consideration.
2. Withdrawal Before Publication:
   An accepted manuscript may be withdrawn from the publication process if significant plagiarism is identified before publication.
3. Correction or Editorial Notice:
   Where the issue is limited or does not warrant retraction, an appropriate correction or editorial notice may be issued.
4. Retraction of a Published Article:
   A published article containing substantial plagiarism may be formally retracted in accordance with the journal's retraction procedures and applicable publication-ethics principles.
5. Retraction Notice:
   Where an article is retracted, a clear retraction notice may be published and linked to the original article to maintain transparency and preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.
6. Institutional Notification:
   GJMAS may notify the relevant institution, university, employer, or funding organization of confirmed serious academic misconduct.
7. Restriction on Future Submissions:
   Authors found responsible for serious or repeated plagiarism may be restricted or temporarily prohibited from submitting manuscripts to GJMAS. The duration of any restriction will be determined according to the seriousness and circumstances of the case.
8. Editorial and Legal Action:
   GJMAS reserves the right to take any additional action considered appropriate under applicable publication-ethics standards, journal policies, or relevant legal requirements.

Plagiarism Discovered After Publication

If plagiarism is reported or detected after publication, the editor-in-chief will assess the allegation and may initiate an investigation.

Where plagiarism is confirmed, GJMAS will take appropriate action to correct the scholarly record. Depending on the extent and nature of the misconduct, this may include:

• publication of a correction or editorial statement;
• publication of a formal retraction notice;
• linking the notice to the affected article;
• notifying the relevant institution or organization;
• restricting future submissions from responsible authors;
• Informing relevant indexing or abstracting services where necessary.

The journal will not silently remove a published article when doing so would compromise the integrity of the scholarly record. Where retraction is necessary, the original article and retraction notice will be appropriately identified and linked wherever technically possible.

Commitment to Original Research

GJMAS believes that protecting intellectual property and maintaining research originality are fundamental responsibilities of scholarly publishing. The journal therefore encourages authors to conduct and report research honestly, provide accurate citations, acknowledge the contributions of other researchers, and avoid all forms of plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabrication, falsification, and other research misconduct.

All plagiarism-related cases will be handled confidentially, fairly, and in accordance with the seriousness of the allegation, while maintaining the integrity of the academic record.