Plagiarism Policy

The Journal of Science Technology and Engineering Research (JOSTER) maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism. We are committed to upholding the integrity of academic publishing and ensuring that all submitted and published content is original, properly cited, and ethically produced.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else’s work, ideas, words, or data as one’s own without proper attribution. This includes, but is not limited to:

Copying text, images, or data from another source without citation
Paraphrasing substantial portions of another’s work without acknowledgement
Self-plagiarism (reusing one’s own previously published content without disclosure)
Submitting others' work under one’s own name

2. Screening for Plagiarism

All submissions to JOSTER are screened for plagiarism using reliable plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate, or Similarity Check).

Thresholds:

A similarity index above 15–20% (excluding references and quoted content) may lead to rejection or mandatory revision.
Any detected act of intentional plagiarism will result in immediate rejection and possible blacklisting of the author.

3. Actions in Case of Plagiarism

If plagiarism is detected at any stage (pre- or post-publication), the editorial team will take the following steps:

a. Before Publication:

Inform the authors with the plagiarism report
Request a detailed explanation or revision
Reject the manuscript if the plagiarism is significant or unethical

b. After Publication:

Issue a correction or retraction notice, depending on the severity
Notify the authors’ institutions or funding bodies
Ban future submissions from the author(s) if warranted

4. Author Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that:

All content is original and properly cited
Permissions are obtained for third-party material
Reused content (e.g., from conference papers) is properly disclosed

5. Editorial Responsibility

Editors and reviewers are trained to identify signs of plagiarism. All reports are handled confidentially and fairly, in accordance with COPE guidelines.