Plagiarism & AI Policy

The RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary (RRIJM) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and originality in all published works. In alignment with the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2018, the journal has established a comprehensive policy to prevent plagiarism and ensure ethical publishing practices. Additionally, the journal addresses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in manuscript preparation to maintain transparency and accountability.

Plagiarism Policy

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when an individual intentionally or unintentionally presents the ideas, words, or creative expressions of others as their own without proper acknowledgment. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying text, figures, tables, equations, or illustrations from another source without citation.
  • Reusing significant portions of one’s own previously published work (self-plagiarism) without proper acknowledgment.
  • Downloading or reproducing content from the internet without attribution.

Types of Plagiarism

  • Direct Plagiarism: Verbatim copying of content from another source without quotation marks or citation.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing one’s own previously published work without proper citation or justification.
  • Mosaic Plagiarism: Piecing together content from multiple sources without proper attribution.
  • Accidental Plagiarism: Unintentional failure to cite sources or paraphrase appropriately.

Plagiarism Detection and Prevention

Pre-Publication Checks:

  • All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using Turnitin software before the review process begins.
  • Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding the acceptable threshold (as per UGC guidelines) will be returned to the author(s) for revision or proper citation.
  • Authors must ensure that their submissions are original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.

During the Review Process:

  • If plagiarism is detected by editors, reviewers, or editorial board members at any stage (before or after acceptance), the author(s) will be notified and asked to revise the content or provide proper citations.
  • Manuscripts with significant plagiarism may be rejected outright.

Post-Publication Checks:

  • If plagiarism is detected after publication, the journal will conduct a thorough investigation.
  • Depending on the severity of the plagiarism, the journal may:
    • Notify the author(s) institution and funding agencies.
    • Mark the PDF of the published paper with a plagiarism notice on each page.
    • Retract the paper formally if the plagiarism is extensive.

Reporting Plagiarism:

  • Readers, reviewers, or other stakeholders are encouraged to report suspected plagiarism to the editorial office at editor@rrjournals.com.
  • Reported cases will be re-evaluated, and necessary actions will be taken, including contacting the author(s) for revisions or retracting the paper if required.

Author Responsibilities

  • Authors must ensure that their work is original and properly cited.
  • Authors must disclose any prior publication of the content and provide appropriate citations for reused material.
  • Authors must avoid self-plagiarism by clearly citing their previous work when reusing significant portions.

AI Policy

Use of AI in Manuscript Preparation

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT or other AI-based writing assistants, in the preparation of manuscripts is permitted under the following conditions:

Transparency:

  • Authors must disclose the use of AI tools in the manuscript preparation process, including the specific tools used and their role in generating or editing content.
  • A statement must be included in the manuscript under the "Acknowledgments" or "Methods" section, detailing the extent of AI involvement.

Authorship and Accountability:

  • AI tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors. Authors are solely responsible for the content of the manuscript, including any portions generated or edited by AI tools.
  • Authors must ensure that the use of AI does not compromise the originality, accuracy, or integrity of the work.

Plagiarism and AI:

  • Authors must ensure that AI-generated content does not inadvertently include plagiarized material. All AI-generated text must be carefully reviewed and properly cited if it draws from existing sources.

Ethical Use:

  • AI tools should be used to assist in the writing process, not to replace critical thinking, analysis, or originality.
  • Authors must ensure that the use of AI complies with ethical guidelines and does not misrepresent the research or its findings.

Consequences of Policy Violations

  • Plagiarism: Manuscripts found to contain plagiarized content will be rejected or retracted, and the author(s) may face further consequences, including notification to their institution or funding agencies.
  • AI Misuse: Failure to disclose the use of AI tools or misuse of AI in manuscript preparation may result in rejection of the manuscript or retraction of a published article.

Commitment to Academic Integrity

The RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary (RRIJM) is dedicated to fostering a culture of academic integrity and ethical publishing. By adhering to this plagiarism and AI policy, the journal aims to ensure the credibility, originality, and transparency of all published research. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to uphold these standards throughout the publication process.

For any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please contact the editorial office at editor@rrjournals.com.