Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy for Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence Research

Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence Research is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. Plagiarism, in any form, undermines the credibility of research and violates ethical standards. This policy outlines the measures taken by the journal to prevent, detect, and address plagiarism in submitted manuscripts.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the act of using someone else’s work, ideas, or words without appropriate acknowledgment. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text, data, or images from another source without proper citation.
  • Paraphrasing Without Citation: Rewriting someone else’s ideas or findings without proper acknowledgment.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Submitting the same or substantially similar work that has been published or is under review elsewhere without proper citation or permission.
  • Inadequate Citations: Failing to properly attribute sources, leading to the misrepresentation of another’s work or ideas.
  • Misleading Citations: Citing sources inaccurately or fabricating references.

2. Prevention of Plagiarism

To prevent plagiarism and ensure originality in research, Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence Research requires authors to adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Originality of Work: Authors must submit original research that has not been previously published or under consideration for publication elsewhere. All submitted work should be the authors’ own.
  • Proper Citation: Authors must give credit to original authors and sources when using other’s ideas, data, or works. All references should be cited according to the journal’s citation style.
  • Plagiarism Check: Authors are encouraged to use plagiarism detection tools to check their manuscripts before submission to ensure that the work complies with ethical standards.
  • Transparency of Data and Sources: Authors must clearly disclose their sources, data, and any other material that contributed to the research. Proper acknowledgment should be given for the use of datasets, algorithms, models, or figures derived from other sources.

3. Detection of Plagiarism

Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence Research uses advanced plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate) to screen all submitted manuscripts for similarities with previously published content. This tool helps identify potential instances of plagiarism and ensures the integrity of the research published in the journal.

  • Screening Process: All manuscripts will be checked for plagiarism during the submission and peer review stages. If any similarity above a certain threshold (typically 20%) is detected, the editorial team will review the flagged content.
  • Threshold for Action: If a manuscript shows more than 20% similarity with existing work, the editorial office will conduct a thorough examination. Manuscripts with more than 40% similarity are likely to be rejected, depending on the extent of the plagiarism.

4. Handling Plagiarism

If plagiarism is detected at any stage of the submission or publication process, Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence Research will take the following actions:

  • Before Acceptance: If plagiarism is identified before the manuscript has been accepted, the manuscript will be rejected, and the author will be informed of the reason for rejection. The editorial team may offer the author the opportunity to revise the manuscript and resubmit if the plagiarism was minor or unintentional (such as improper citation).

  • After Acceptance, Before Publication: If plagiarism is detected after acceptance but before the article has been published, the article will be retracted or rejected. The editorial office may issue a retraction notice indicating the reason for the withdrawal.

  • After Publication: If plagiarism is identified after the article has been published, the article will be retracted, and a retraction notice will be issued. The article will remain accessible with a clear statement explaining the reason for retraction due to plagiarism.

    • Retraction and Notification: In cases of serious plagiarism, the editorial board may notify the author’s institution, funding bodies, and other relevant authorities.

5. Consequences of Plagiarism

  • Author Sanctions: Authors found guilty of plagiarism may be banned from submitting future work to Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence Research. In cases of serious or repeated plagiarism, authors may be permanently banned from publishing with the journal.
  • Academic and Professional Consequences: Instances of plagiarism may also be reported to the author’s institution, funding bodies, or other professional organizations for further investigation or action.

6. Ethical Guidelines for Authors

Authors are expected to adhere to the following ethical guidelines to prevent plagiarism:

  • Honesty and Transparency: Authors must ensure that all data, results, and references in their manuscript are truthful and transparent. Any issues related to the accuracy or authenticity of the data must be disclosed.
  • Proper Attribution: Authors must ensure that all work or ideas that are not their own are properly acknowledged through correct citation practices. This includes datasets, models, theories, and prior research that form the basis of the submitted work.
  • Self-Check Before Submission: Authors are strongly encouraged to use plagiarism detection tools (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate) to check their manuscripts for similarities with existing literature before submission.

7. Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers

Reviewers are also responsible for maintaining the integrity of the peer review process. They should:

  • Identify Potential Plagiarism: Reviewers should report any instances of plagiarism or concerns regarding the originality of the manuscript to the editorial team.
  • Confidentiality and Impartiality: Reviewers should maintain the confidentiality of the manuscript and refrain from discussing or using any information from the manuscript for personal or professional gain.

8. Updates to the Policy

Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence Research reserves the right to revise this plagiarism policy as necessary, based on updates in publishing practices or feedback from the academic community. Any changes to the policy will be communicated to authors, reviewers, and other stakeholders.