7-Plagiarism Policy

This Plagiarism Policy outlines what constitutes plagiarism, how BER detects and addresses it, and the consequences for authors found to have plagiarized. It applies to all submissions and published content in BER and aligns with the ethical standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

7.1    Scope of Policy

This policy applies to:

  • All submissions to BER, including original research, reviews, conceptual papers, case studies, and editorials.
  • All authors, whether first author, corresponding author, or co-author.
  • Pre-publication (manuscript submission and review), and post-publication (discovered after publication).

7.2    Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for:

  • Submitting only original work that has not been plagiarized in whole or in part.
  • Ensuring that all sources are properly cited, including direct quotations, paraphrased content, data, and figures.
  • Disclosing any previous publication of the same or similar content.
  • Obtaining permission for the use of copyrighted material (figures, charts, lengthy excerpts).
  • Avoiding self-plagiarism by citing previously published work and clearly stating its relationship to the current submission.

Failure to adhere to these responsibilities may result in rejection, retraction, or sanctions.

7.3    Acceptable Similarity Thresholds

BER uses plagiarism detection software (Turnitin®) to screen all submitted manuscripts. An article having a similarity index of 14% in total and/or 4% with a single source will be rejected.

7.4    Detection and Screening Process

7.4.1 Pre-Publication Screening

  • All manuscripts are automatically screened for similarity upon submission.
  • Editors review the similarity report and assess whether overlap constitutes plagiarism.
  • If potential plagiarism is found, the manuscript is placed on hold, and the corresponding author is contacted for clarification.

7.4.2 Manual Checking

  • In addition to automated tools, editors and reviewers may detect plagiarism during peer review.
  • Any concerns raised during the editorial or review process are investigated thoroughly.

7.4.3 Post-Publication Discovery

If plagiarism is discovered after publication, BER follows COPE guidelines for investigation and correction.

7.5    Handling Suspected Plagiarism

7.5.1 Initial Assessment

When a case of suspected plagiarism is identified, the Editor-in-Chief or a designated ethics committee will:

  • Review the similarity report and flagged content.
  • Compare the manuscript with the original sources.
  • Determine the extent and intent (e.g., minor citation issue vs. deliberate copying).

7.5.2 Author Notification

If plagiarism is suspected:

  • Authors will be contacted and given an opportunity to respond.
  • A written explanation and, if applicable, evidence of permissions or citations may be requested.

7.5.3 Investigation Outcomes

After investigation, the editorial team will take one of the following actions:

  • No action: If similarities are minor or properly cited.
  • Request for revision: If citations are missing but no deceptive intent is found.
  • Rejection: If plagiarism is confirmed before publication.
  • Retraction: If plagiarism is discovered after publication.
  • Author sanctions: In severe or repeated cases.

7.6    Consequences of Plagiarism

The consequences depend on the severity and stage at which plagiarism is detected.

7.6.1 Before Publication

  • Minor overlap: Authors asked to revise and add proper citations.
  • Significant plagiarism: Manuscript rejected, and authors warned.
  • Severe or intentional plagiarism: Immediate rejection and author(s) may be blacklisted.

7.6.2 After Publication

If plagiarism is discovered in a published article:

  • A retraction notice is issued, linked to the original article.
  • The article is marked as “Retracted” in indexing databases.
  • The authors’ institution may be notified.
  • The authors may be banned from submitting to BER for a defined period (e.g., 3–5 years or permanently).

7.7    Self-Plagiarism Policy

Self-plagiarism (also called text recycling) occurs when authors reuse their own previously published content without acknowledgment. Authors cannot use self-citations more than 5 times in a single paper.

7.8    Avoiding Plagiarism: Best Practices for Authors

To ensure originality:

  • Always use quotation marks for direct quotes and cite the source.
  • When paraphrasing, use your own words and cite the original idea.
  • Use writing assisting tools (e.g., Grammarly) before submission.
  • Maintain a record of references and citations used during manuscript preparation.
  • Do not copy from your own previous papers without citing them.

7.9    Citation Integrity

Accurate and responsible citation practices are essential to avoid plagiarism. Authors should:

  • Cite primary sources where possible, not only secondary summaries.
  • Avoid citation manipulation (excessive self-citation or irrelevant references).
  • Follow BER’s citation style guide consistently (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

7.10           Ethical Use of AI and Automated Tools

BER recognizes that authors may use AI-based tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly) to assist in language editing. However:

  • AI-generated content must not substitute scholarly reasoning or analysis.
  • Authors are fully responsible for all content, including any material created or modified by AI.
  • AI-generated text must be properly edited, cited (if applicable), and checked for accuracy.
  • AI must not be used to summarize, paraphrase, or copy from third-party research without proper attribution.

Failure to disclose inappropriate AI use may result in retraction or sanctions.

7.11           COPE Guidelines and Ethical Framework

BER adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) flowcharts and principles for:

  • Handling plagiarism during the review process
  • Addressing post-publication plagiarism
  • Issuing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern

All cases are handled with fairness, confidentiality, and due process.

7.12           Education and Author Support

BER is committed to supporting authors through:

  • Author guidelines and templates that highlight citation expectations
  • Webinars and writing workshops on academic integrity
  • Editorial guidance on ethical manuscript preparation
  • Access to ethical publishing resources (e.g., COPE, ORI)

Authors unsure about proper attribution practices are encouraged to contact the editorial office for clarification.

7.13           Institutional Notification

In serious or repeated cases of confirmed plagiarism, BER may notify:

  • The authors’ institution or department
  • Research funders or sponsoring agencies
  • Ethics committees or professional associations

Such action is taken in accordance with COPE guidelines and only when there is clear evidence of unethical behavior.

7.14           Retraction and Correction Procedures

When plagiarism is discovered in a published article:

  • A retraction notice is published in the next journal issue.
  • The notice includes the article title, author names, date, and reason for retraction.
  • The original article remains online but is watermarked or labeled as Retracted.
  • If minor plagiarism is involved, a correction or erratum may be issued instead.

7.15           Policy Review and Updates

This Plagiarism Policy is reviewed every two years or in response to:

  • Changes in industry standards
  • Updates to software tools
  • Technological advancements (e.g., AI detection)
  • Feedback from authors or editors

Updates are published on BER’s website and reflected in the submission portal