Plagiarism Policy
At JOSTA, we maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All submissions undergo rigorous scrutiny to ensure originality and proper scholarly conduct.
Screening for plagiarism
To safeguard against unethical practices, every manuscript submitted to JOSTA is screened using Turnitin plagiarism detection software. This process checks for textual similarities and potential overlaps with previously published material, including journal articles, theses, conference papers, web content, and other sources.
Acceptable use of language tools
Authors are permitted to use AI-based tools and language assistants (e.g., Grammarly, ChatGPT) for improving grammar, clarity, and language structure, provided the intellectual content, interpretation, and conclusions are solely those of the authors.
However, authors must not use AI or generative tools to develop: - Core theoretical frameworks - Research hypotheses or models - Methodological structures - Results or interpretations
Any content derived using such tools must be explicitly disclosed and will be subject to editorial scrutiny. JOSTA discourages and may reject work where foundational ideas or analyses are generated by AI.
Definition of plagiarism
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to: - Direct copying of text, data, images, or figures without proper citation - Paraphrasing substantial portions of another’s work without acknowledgment - Submitting previously published work (self-plagiarism) without disclosure - Improper use of generative AI for academic content creation
JOSTA adheres to international norms such as the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines and the UGC (University Grants Commission) regulations on academic integrity in defining, identifying, and dealing with plagiarism. These frameworks guide our editorial decisions and ensure ethical standards are maintained throughout the publication process.
Editorial action on plagiarism
If plagiarism is detected at any stage: - Before publication: The manuscript will be rejected, and the authors may be barred from future submission for a defined period. - After publication: The article may be retracted, and a formal notice will be issued to the authors’ affiliated institutions.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of their submissions. By submitting a manuscript, authors affirm that the content is original and has not been submitted elsewhere.