Plagiarism Policy

Commitment to Originality

Journal of Digital Sociohumanities (JDS) maintains a firm zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism. We consider plagiarism a serious violation of academic integrity, and we are committed to protecting the originality and quality of the research we publish. This policy outlines the definition of plagiarism, preventive measures, detection processes, and the specific actions taken when plagiarism is detected.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as:

"The use or close imitation of the language, ideas, data, or results of another author without appropriate acknowledgment, presenting them as one’s own original work."

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying text, images, figures, tables, or data without proper citation.

  • Rephrasing substantial sections of others’ work without acknowledgment.

  • Self-plagiarism (reusing one’s previously published material without disclosure or permission).

Preventive Measures

To help authors avoid unintentional plagiarism, Journal of Digital Sociohumanities strongly recommends:

  • Using similarity detection software such as Turnitin prior to submission.

  • Maintaining a maximum similarity index of 20%, excluding references, common phrases, and methodological sections.

  • Properly quoting, paraphrasing, and citing all borrowed material, including prior publications by the same author(s).

Detection and Investigation

All submitted manuscripts undergo similarity checks by the editorial office using plagiarism detection software. If potential plagiarism is identified:

  • The Editor-in-Chief will review the report and assess the extent and severity.

  • The corresponding author will be informed and invited to provide an explanation.

  • Investigations will follow COPE guidelines to ensure fairness and transparency.

Levels of Plagiarism and Actions

Minor Plagiarism

  • Definition: Small portions (e.g., short paragraphs) copied without citation, no significant data or novel ideas involved.

  • Action: Authors receive a warning and are asked to revise the manuscript and add proper citations.

Intermediate Plagiarism

  • Definition: Large copied sections, improper paraphrasing, or reuse of one’s previous work (self-plagiarism) affecting >10% of the paper.

  • Action: Manuscript is rejected; authors are barred from submission for one year.

Severe Plagiarism

  • Definition: Significant duplication involving original data, results, ideas, or substantial overlap with another published work (including simultaneous submissions).

  • Action: Manuscript is rejected; authors are barred from submission for five years.

If repeated offenses are detected, the Editorial Board, under the leadership of the Editor-in-Chief, reserves the right to impose a permanent ban on future submissions.

Special Cases and Clarifications

  • Self-plagiarism: Authors must disclose reused content from their previous publications. Any material exceeding fair use (more than two or three sentences or key figures) requires proper citation and, where necessary, permission.

  • Conference-to-Journal Submissions: Authors must disclose prior conference publications and obtain republication permissions if applicable.

  • Translations: Translated submissions from prior publications must cite the original work and secure copyright permissions.

  • Historic or Invited Republications: If the journal republishes landmark papers, this will be transparently indicated, with full citation and permissions.

Recordkeeping and Enforcement

The Journal of Digital Sociohumanities editorial office maintains a confidential list of authors who have been sanctioned under this policy. The layout editor is responsible for cross-checking submissions to ensure compliance. Any attempt to bypass sanctions will be reported to the Editor-in-Chief for immediate action.

This plagiarism policy is publicly available on the journal website, provided alongside submission guidelines, and included in the author agreement and copyright transfer forms. By submitting, authors acknowledge that they have read and understood this policy.

For inquiries or to report suspected plagiarism, please contact: jds@unand.ac.id

Through this robust and transparent plagiarism policy, the Journal of Digital Sociohumanities upholds its commitment to academic excellence, research integrity, and ethical publishing.