Plagiarism Policy

The FUDMA Journal of Sciences (FJS) is firmly committed to publishing original, high-quality research across all disciplines in science and technology. Upholding the integrity of scholarly work is central to this mission. FJS therefore maintains a strict and comprehensive policy on plagiarism, which applies to all manuscript submissions and all stages of the publication process.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of presenting the words, ideas, data, figures, images, or other intellectual outputs of another person — published or unpublished — as one's own without proper attribution. FJS recognises the following as forms of plagiarism:

  • Direct copying: Reproducing verbatim text, sentences, or paragraphs from any source without enclosing the material in quotation marks and providing a full citation
  • Near-verbatim copying: Making only superficial word substitutions to another author's text while retaining the original sentence structure and meaning
  • Paraphrase plagiarism: Substantially restating another author's ideas in different words without proper acknowledgement of the source
  • Mosaic plagiarism: Combining phrases, sentences, or passages from multiple sources — with or without minor modifications — without attribution, creating an appearance of original writing
  • Self-plagiarism (text recycling): Re-using substantial portions of one's own previously published text, data, or figures without disclosing this to the editors and without proper citation of the prior work
  • Idea plagiarism: Presenting the conceptual framework, hypothesis, or theoretical argument of another researcher as original without attribution, even where the wording differs entirely
  • Data and image plagiarism: Reproducing figures, tables, datasets, photographs, or graphical outputs from any source without permission from the copyright holder and without citing the original work
  • Translation plagiarism: Translating text from a source in another language and presenting the translation as original work without acknowledging the original author and source

Scope of Application

This policy applies to all content submitted to FJS, including:

  • Original research articles, review articles, technical reports, and short communications
  • All sections of a manuscript: title, abstract, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, and references
  • Figures, tables, images, and supplementary materials
  • Cover letters and responses to reviewers

Screening Process

All manuscripts submitted to FJS are subjected to plagiarism screening using established detection software prior to peer review. This screening is performed as part of the initial editorial assessment.

Similarity Index Threshold

FJS applies a similarity index threshold of 25% as the standard for acceptable textual overlap. This threshold is applied to the overall similarity score as generated by the detection software.

Authors should note that:

  • A similarity index below 25% does not automatically confirm the absence of plagiarism. The Editorial Board will always assess the nature and context of any matched text, including whether sources have been properly cited.
  • A similarity index at or above 25% will normally result in the manuscript being returned to the authors for revision and reduction of similarity, or in outright rejection, depending on the severity and nature of the overlap.
  • Even a low similarity score will result in rejection if any portion of the manuscript is found to contain deliberately plagiarised content — for example, closely copied text that has been paraphrased just enough to evade automated detection.

Exclusions from Similarity Scoring

The Editorial Board recognises that not all matched text indicates misconduct. The following are taken into account when interpreting similarity reports:

  • Properly quoted text enclosed in quotation marks and cited in full
  • Standard technical terminology, nomenclature, and methodological descriptions that are conventional in the discipline
  • Reference lists and bibliographic entries
  • Institutional information, journal names, and standard legal or ethical statements

These elements may be excluded or discounted during the editorial review of similarity reports, at the discretion of the editorial team.

Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling

FJS recognises that authors sometimes build on their own prior work. The following guidance applies:

  • Authors must not reproduce substantial portions of their own previously published texts without clearly disclosing this to the editors at the point of submission and citing the prior work appropriately.
  • Submitting an article that represents a minor extension or re-packaging of a previously published paper — without substantial new intellectual contribution — is considered redundant publication and is subject to the same consequences as plagiarism.
  • Reproducing one's own previously published figures, tables, or data without proper self-citation and, where required, permission from the copyright holder, is not permitted.

Author Responsibilities

Authors bear full and personal responsibility for ensuring the originality of all submitted work. Authors are expected to:

  • Ensure that all text in the manuscript is their own original writing or is clearly quoted and attributed to its source
  • Cite all sources — published and unpublished — from which ideas, data, figures, or text have been drawn, regardless of the extent of reuse
  • Conduct a self-check for similarity before submission, using available tools, to identify and correct any unintentional overlap
  • Obtain written permission from copyright holders for any reproduced figures, tables, or other protected material
  • Disclose any prior or concurrent publications of substantially similar content at the point of submission

Consequences of Plagiarism

Where plagiarism is identified — whether before or after publication — FJS will take one or more of the following actions, proportionate to the severity of the violation:

Before Publication

  • Minor overlap: The manuscript will be returned to the authors with a request to revise and reduce the similarity before resubmission. This is treated as a single opportunity for correction.
  • Significant overlap or deliberate plagiarism: The manuscript will be rejected outright. Authors will be informed of the reason for rejection.

After Publication

  • Minor plagiarism: A formal correction or expression of concern will be published and linked to the original article.
  • Substantial or deliberate plagiarism: The article will be retracted in accordance with COPE Retraction Guidelines. A retraction notice will be published and permanently linked to the original article in all databases where it is indexed.

Sanctions Against Authors

In addition to rejection or retraction, authors found to have committed deliberate plagiarism may face:

  • A prohibition from submitting manuscripts to FJS for a period of two years
  • Exclusion from serving as a peer reviewer or editor for FJS
  • Formal notification of the violation to the authors' institutions
  • Reporting to relevant professional bodies or funding agencies, where applicable

Suspected Plagiarism: Reporting and Investigation

Readers, reviewers, or editors who suspect that a submitted or published article contains plagiarised content are encouraged to report this to the FJS Editorial Office. Reports should include:

  • The title and, where applicable, DOI of the FJS article in question
  • The suspected source(s) of the plagiarised content
  • A clear description or evidence of the suspected overlap

All reports will be treated in strict confidence. Investigations will be conducted in accordance with COPE guidelines to ensure fairness and impartiality for all parties. Authors will be given the opportunity to respond to any allegation before a final decision is reached.

Relationship to Other Policies

This Plagiarism Policy should be read in conjunction with FJS's Publication Ethics policy, Editorial Policies, and Generative AI Policy. The use of AI tools to generate, paraphrase, or substantially rewrite manuscript content is treated as equivalent to plagiarism under FJS's Generative AI Policy and is subject to the same sanctions described in this document.

Commitment to Originality

FJS is dedicated to ensuring that every article it publishes represents a genuine, original contribution to knowledge in science and technology. By submitting a manuscript, all authors confirm that the work is their own, that all sources have been properly cited, and that no portion of the manuscript has been plagiarised from any source. The Editorial Board thanks the scientific community for its continued support in upholding these standards.

CONTACT AND SUPPORT

To report suspected plagiarism or for enquiries about this policy, contact: FJS Editorial Office or email fjs@fudutsinma.edu.ng

Last Updated: 28th May, 2026 – FJS Editorial Board