Anti-Plagiarism Policy
Anti-Plagiarism Policy
investigación y Pensamiento Crítico Journal (IPC)
1. Objective
The Research and Critical Thinking Journal (IPC) is committed to promoting scientific integrity, academic honesty, and best practices in the publication of research results.
This Anti-Plagiarism Policy establishes the principles, procedures, and criteria that the journal applies to prevent, detect, and manage potential cases of plagiarism, self-plagiarism, redundant publication, and other forms of academic misconduct during the editorial process.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to the journal, regardless of their type, including:
Research articles.
Review articles.
Case studies.
Scientific essays.
Brief communications.
Other works accepted by the journal.
It is also mandatory for authors, reviewers, editors, and members of the Editorial Committee.
3. Definitions
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as the total or partial use of ideas, texts, data, images, tables, figures, or any other material created by third parties without proper acknowledgment of the original source.
It includes, among others:
Verbatim copying without citation.
Inadequate paraphrasing.
Appropriation of ideas.
Use of figures or tables without authorization when applicable.
Deliberate omission of references.
Self-Plagiarism
Self-plagiarism consists of reusing, in whole or in part, work previously published by the authors themselves without the corresponding reference or editorial justification.
Examples include:
Republishing a previously published article.
Reusing large sections of text without citing them.
Presenting previously published results as if they were original.
Duplicate Publication
This consists of simultaneously submitting or publishing the same manuscript or a substantially similar one in two or more journals without adequately informing the editors involved.
Redundant Publication
This refers to the unnecessary fragmentation of a single research project into multiple publications ("salami publication") with the purpose of artificially inflating scientific output.
4. Similarity Detection Tools
All manuscripts received by IPC will be evaluated using specialized similarity detection software.
The journal may use tools such as:
Turnitin;
iThenticate;
Crossref Similarity Check;
or other equivalent technologies.
The use of these tools is a support mechanism for editorial evaluation and does not replace the academic judgment of the Editorial Committee.
5. Interpretation of the Similarity Index
The similarity percentage obtained using the software does not, in itself, constitute a criterion for acceptance or rejection.
The Editorial Committee will qualitatively analyze the detected similarities, considering aspects such as:
properly referenced citations;
bibliography;
commonly used technical phrases;
standardized methodologies;
legislation or technical standards;
texts previously published by the authors.
Therefore, a high degree of similarity does not necessarily imply plagiarism, while a low percentage does not guarantee the absence of misconduct.
6. Editorial Evaluation
When relevant similarities are detected, the Editor may:
request clarification from the authors;
require modifications to the manuscript;
request a new version;
temporarily suspend the evaluation;
reject the manuscript when there is sufficient evidence of scientific misconduct.
Each case will be analyzed individually.
7. Authors' Responsibilities
Authors must guarantee that:
the manuscript is original;
all sources have been properly cited;
they have authorization to use copyrighted material, when necessary;
the work has not been previously published, except for the exceptions accepted by the journal;
the manuscript is not simultaneously under review by another journal.
Authors will be responsible for the content presented and for any breach related to the originality of the work.
8. Responsibilities of the Editorial Committee
The Editorial Committee will act impartially and confidentially during the evaluation of potential plagiarism cases.
Editorial decisions will be based on available evidence and international recommendations on ethics in scientific publishing.
When necessary, the journal may request additional information from the authors or consult their respective affiliated institutions.
9. Editorial Measures
Depending on the severity of the case, IPC may adopt one or more of the following measures:
request for corrections;
temporary suspension of the editorial process;
rejection of the manuscript;
retraction of the article, when appropriate;
publication of a correction or editorial note;
notification to the affiliated institution
