Plagiarism policy
EKSIGMA is committed to safeguarding originality, academic integrity, and ethical publishing practices. All manuscripts submitted to the journal are routinely screened for originality and similarity using Turnitin before they are considered for external peer review.
Originality Requirement
Authors must submit original, unpublished work that is not under review by another journal and has not been previously published in whole or in substantial part.
All sources, data, ideas, text, figures, tables, images, and other materials obtained from third parties must be properly cited and acknowledged.
By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that the work is their own, that all sources have been appropriately acknowledged, and that all co-authors have approved its submission to EKSIGMA.
Similarity and Plagiarism Screening
All manuscripts submitted to EKSIGMA are routinely screened using Turnitin, an originality and similarity detection service, before proceeding to external peer review.
Turnitin similarity reports are reviewed and interpreted by the Editor-in-Chief and the editorial team. The similarity percentage alone does not automatically determine whether a manuscript is accepted or rejected. The editorial assessment considers the nature and context of the similarities identified.
References, correctly quoted material, methodological descriptions, commonly used academic expressions, institutional names, and other legitimate textual coincidences may contribute to the similarity percentage without constituting plagiarism.
When potentially inappropriate similarities are identified, the editorial team examines the corresponding sources and determines whether clarification, correction, revision, or rejection is required.
Forms of Misconduct
EKSIGMA considers the following practices unacceptable:
Plagiarism: presenting another person’s ideas, text, data, images, tables, results, or findings as one’s own without appropriate attribution.
Self-plagiarism: reusing substantial parts of one’s own previously published work without proper citation, transparency, or editorial authorization.
Duplicate or redundant publication: submitting or publishing substantially the same manuscript in more than one journal or publication outlet.
Improper citation practices: omitting relevant sources, using inaccurate references, manipulating citations, or including references that have not been consulted.
Data or image manipulation: fabricating, falsifying, or inappropriately altering data, figures, images, or research results.
Undeclared use of artificial intelligence tools: failing to disclose the use of artificial intelligence tools when such use materially affects the creation, analysis, writing, translation, editing, or presentation of the manuscript.
Editorial Procedure
When a potential case of plagiarism or other publication misconduct is detected before publication, including through Turnitin screening, the editorial team may take one or more of the following actions:
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Request clarification or supporting documentation from the authors.
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Request revision and proper citation of the affected content.
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Return the manuscript to the authors for substantial correction.
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Reject the manuscript when plagiarism, duplicate publication, data manipulation, fabrication, falsification, or another serious ethical breach is confirmed.
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Notify the authors’ institution or other relevant bodies when the seriousness of the case warrants such action.
Authors will normally be given the opportunity to provide an explanation before a final editorial decision is made, except where there is clear and documented evidence of serious misconduct.
Allegations After Publication
If a concern related to plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabricated or falsified data, manipulated images, improper citation, or another ethical breach is raised after publication, EKSIGMA will assess the allegation confidentially, objectively, and fairly.
Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the journal may publish a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction.
Retraction notices will clearly identify the affected article, explain the reason for the retraction, and preserve the integrity and transparency of the scholarly record.
Responsibilities of Authors, Reviewers, and Editors
Authors are responsible for the originality, integrity, and accuracy of their work and for properly acknowledging all sources used.
Reviewers are encouraged to report any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, inaccurate citation, data manipulation, undisclosed conflicts, or other ethical concerns identified during the peer-review process.
Editors are responsible for evaluating similarity reports and allegations of misconduct objectively, confidentially, consistently, and in accordance with this policy.
Questions or reports concerning plagiarism or publication misconduct may be submitted to:
