Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy

Medha Drishty International Research Journal (MDIRJ) is committed to maintaining high standards of academic integrity, research ethics, originality, and responsible scholarly publishing. The journal follows a systematic plagiarism screening policy to ensure that manuscripts submitted for publication contain original scholarly work and appropriately acknowledge the ideas, words, data, findings, and intellectual contributions of other researchers.

All manuscripts submitted to MDIRJ may undergo plagiarism/similarity screening using appropriate plagiarism-detection tools and editorial assessment before or during the peer-review process. Authors are expected to follow responsible research and publication practices and to ensure that their submissions comply with the journal's academic and ethical requirements.

Understanding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation or use of another person's words, ideas, concepts, data, findings, images, tables, research materials, or intellectual work without appropriate acknowledgment or citation. Plagiarism may occur intentionally or unintentionally and is considered a serious violation of academic integrity.

Plagiarism may also include substantial reuse of an author's own previously published material without appropriate citation or disclosure, commonly referred to as self-plagiarism.

Duplicate Publication

Duplicate or redundant publication may occur when:

  • The same or substantially similar manuscript is submitted to more than one journal simultaneously.

  • Previously published material is republished without appropriate citation, disclosure, or permission where required.

  • A substantially similar study is divided into multiple publications without sufficient additional scholarly contribution.

  • Previously published data or findings are reused without transparent disclosure and appropriate attribution.

Plagiarism Screening Before Publication

Submitted manuscripts may undergo similarity screening before being sent for external peer review and/or at other stages of the editorial process.

The Editorial Office may consider the overall similarity percentage, the source of matching material, the location of similarities, the extent of copied material, citation practices, and the scholarly context when evaluating a similarity report.

Similarity Assessment

As a general editorial guideline:

  • Up to 10% Similarity: May generally be acceptable when the matching material consists primarily of properly cited references, standard terminology, quotations, or unavoidable technical language.

  • 10%–15% Similarity: Authors may be asked to revise the manuscript, improve paraphrasing, and provide appropriate citations where necessary.

  • 15%–20% Similarity: The manuscript may require detailed editorial examination and revision before further consideration.

  • More than 20% Similarity: The manuscript may be returned to the authors or rejected depending on the nature, source, and extent of the overlapping content.

Similarity percentage alone does not determine whether plagiarism has occurred. The Editorial Board reserves the right to make the final decision after examining the actual sources and context of the detected similarities.

Author Responsibilities

By submitting a manuscript to MDIRJ, authors confirm that:

  • The manuscript represents original scholarly work.

  • The manuscript has not been previously published in substantially the same form.

  • The manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal or publication platform.

  • All ideas, statements, data, findings, quotations, figures, tables, and other borrowed material have been appropriately acknowledged.

  • Direct quotations are clearly identified and properly cited.

  • Paraphrased material is appropriately rewritten and attributed to the original source.

  • The manuscript does not contain plagiarized, fabricated, falsified, or misleading content.

  • Appropriate permissions have been obtained for copyrighted material where required.

  • Any substantial use of the authors' own previously published material has been appropriately disclosed and cited.

Forms of Plagiarism

Direct Plagiarism

Copying words, sentences, paragraphs, or other textual material from a source without appropriate quotation and citation.

Improper Attribution

Using another researcher's ideas, arguments, concepts, theories, findings, or intellectual contributions without acknowledging the original source.

Paraphrasing Plagiarism

Changing only a few words or rearranging the sentence structure of another source while retaining the original meaning without appropriate attribution.

Data Plagiarism

Using another researcher's data, datasets, research results, or statistical findings without appropriate acknowledgment or authorization where required.

Figure and Table Plagiarism

Reproducing or substantially adapting tables, graphs, charts, diagrams, illustrations, photographs, or other visual materials without appropriate attribution and permission where necessary.

Internet Plagiarism

Copying or reproducing content from websites, blogs, online repositories, databases, digital publications, or other online resources without proper acknowledgment.

Self-Plagiarism

Reusing substantial portions of an author's previously published work without appropriate citation, disclosure, or justification.

Previously Published Work in Another Language

If a manuscript is based substantially on research previously published in another language, authors must transparently disclose the original publication to the Editorial Office.

Authors may be required to:

  • Provide complete details of the original publication.

  • Clearly identify the relationship between the previous and submitted work.

  • Provide appropriate citation and acknowledgment.

  • Obtain copyright or translation permission where required.

The Editorial Board will determine whether the submission contains sufficient new scholarly contribution to justify consideration.

Citation and Paraphrasing Requirements

Authors are expected to:

  • Cite all sources accurately and consistently.

  • Use quotation marks and appropriate citations for direct quotations.

  • Properly paraphrase source material using original wording while acknowledging the source.

  • Avoid excessive dependence on a single source.

  • Follow the journal's prescribed referencing style.

  • Verify that every source cited in the manuscript is appropriately represented in the reference list.

Use of Theses, Dissertations, and Conference Papers

Authors may develop journal manuscripts from their:

  • Doctoral Theses

  • Master's Dissertations

  • Conference Papers

  • Conference Proceedings

  • Research Project Reports

  • Institutional Research Reports

However, authors must clearly acknowledge the original work and cite the relevant thesis, dissertation, conference paper, proceedings, or report. The submitted manuscript should contain sufficient scholarly development and should not simply reproduce the previously disseminated material without meaningful modification or additional contribution.

Research Integrity Across Multidisciplinary Fields

Because MDIRJ publishes research across a broad range of disciplines, authors are expected to appropriately acknowledge discipline-specific sources and intellectual contributions, including:

  • Educational theories, models, and teaching materials.

  • Social science datasets and research instruments.

  • Psychological scales and assessment tools.

  • Management and business research frameworks.

  • Statistical models and analytical methodologies.

  • Scientific datasets, experimental methods, and laboratory procedures.

  • Legal materials, case law, legislation, and scholarly interpretations.

  • Historical and cultural sources.

  • Technological frameworks, software, algorithms, and digital resources.

  • Health, physical education, and allied-science methodologies.

  • Tables, figures, images, photographs, charts, and other visual resources.

Consequences of Plagiarism

The action taken in response to suspected plagiarism will depend upon the nature, extent, intent, source, and stage at which the issue is identified.

Minor Similarity or Citation Issues

The authors may be asked to:

  • Correct citations.

  • Rewrite improperly paraphrased material.

  • Provide additional attribution.

  • Revise the manuscript before further consideration.

Substantial or Major Plagiarism

The journal may:

  • Reject the manuscript.

  • Discontinue the peer-review process.

  • Notify the corresponding author of the reason for rejection.

  • Consider restrictions on future submissions where appropriate.

Repeated or Serious Ethical Violations

Where serious or repeated publication-ethics concerns are identified, the journal may consider:

  • Temporary restriction on future submissions.

  • Further editorial investigation.

  • Notification to the author's institution or relevant authority where appropriate.

  • Other measures consistent with applicable publication-ethics standards.

Post-Publication Discovery

If substantial plagiarism or other serious academic misconduct is identified after publication, the journal may take appropriate corrective action, which may include:

  • Publication of a correction or clarification.

  • Issuance of an editorial notice.

  • Retraction of the published article where warranted.

  • Notification of relevant institutions or authorities when appropriate.

Editorial Discretion

A similarity report is an editorial screening tool and not, by itself, proof of plagiarism. Common terminology, standard methodological descriptions, reference lists, properly cited quotations, titles, and other legitimate overlapping content may contribute to a similarity percentage.

The final determination regarding suspected plagiarism or academic misconduct rests with the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board, taking into account the available evidence, manuscript context, author explanations, and applicable publication-ethics principles.

Commitment to Academic Integrity

Medha Drishty International Research Journal (MDIRJ) is committed to promoting original, ethical, transparent, and responsible scholarly research. Authors, reviewers, editors, and Editorial Board Members are expected to uphold appropriate standards of academic honesty and professional conduct.

Through systematic similarity screening, editorial assessment, peer review, and responsible publication-ethics practices, MDIRJ seeks to protect the integrity of scholarly communication and provide a credible platform for the dissemination of high-quality multidisciplinary research.