Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism and Similarity Screening Policy

EQUIPA is committed to maintaining originality and academic integrity in all published articles.

Every submitted manuscript may be screened using recognized similarity-detection software before or during the editorial process.

Similarity reports are used as an editorial tool and are interpreted by the editorial team. A numerical similarity score alone does not automatically determine whether plagiarism has occurred.

Forms of Unacceptable Similarity

The journal considers the following practices potentially unethical:

  • verbatim copying without quotation and citation;
  • unattributed paraphrasing;
  • copying another author's ideas without acknowledgment;
  • self-plagiarism;
  • redundant publication;
  • duplicate publication;
  • unauthorized reuse of tables, figures, or images;
  • translation plagiarism;
  • inappropriate reuse of previously published material;
  • fabricated references; and
  • intentional manipulation intended to evade plagiarism detection.

Similarity Threshold

As an editorial guideline, EQUIPA generally expects the overall similarity level of a submitted manuscript to remain below 20%, excluding properly quoted material, bibliographic references, standard methodological expressions, institutional names, and other unavoidable textual similarities.

However, the editorial decision is based on the nature and location of the similarity, not solely on the overall percentage.

A manuscript with a low similarity score may still contain plagiarism if substantial unattributed copying appears in an important section.

Conversely, a manuscript with a higher technical similarity score may not necessarily constitute plagiarism if similarities arise primarily from properly cited material or unavoidable terminology.

Editorial Action

Where problematic similarity is identified before peer review, the editor may:

  • request correction;
  • return the manuscript to the author;
  • request clarification; or
  • reject the manuscript.

Where plagiarism is identified during peer review, the review process may be suspended while the issue is investigated.

Where plagiarism is discovered after publication, the journal may issue:

  • a correction;
  • an expression of concern;
  • a retraction; or
  • another appropriate editorial notice.

Author Responsibility

Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

  • all borrowed ideas are properly cited;
  • direct quotations are clearly identified;
  • paraphrased content is genuinely rewritten;
  • previously published material is disclosed;
  • permissions are obtained where necessary; and
  • all references are accurate and verifiable.

Submission of a manuscript to EQUIPA constitutes confirmation that the authors accept this plagiarism policy and take responsibility for the originality and integrity of their work.