Shodhpith International Multidisciplinary Research Journal

Plagiarism Policy

The Shodhpith International Multidisciplinary Research Journal is a peer-reviewed, refereed, multidisciplinary, and Online research journal that strictly adheres to ethical publishing practices as per guidelines and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) standards. Maintaining research integrity and originality is fundamental to the journal’s mission, and plagiarism prevention is a key aspect of this commitment. Plagiarism, in any form, is considered a serious academic offense. Authors submitting manuscripts to this journal must ensure that their work is original and free from any form of plagiarism. The journal follows a stringent plagiarism detection policy, and all submissions undergo thorough similarity checks to maintain the highest level of academic integrity.

The author will be required to clarify regarding the plagiarized manuscript within one week if it is found to be suspected of plagiarism during any stages even after publication. Without a reasonable and timely explanation, the manuscript will be automatically rejected and removed from the system. Any manuscripts submitted by the same author will not be accepted

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use of another author's work, ideas, or expressions without proper citation and acknowledgment. It includes but is not limited to:

Example of Plagiarism

Copying and pasting from the Internet and posting somewhere else without proper citation.
Putting your name on another person's research or project.
Copying exact wording from another person's text.
Using another person's photo, diagram, tables, sounds, or ideas without proper citation.
Presenting research in your own words without providing references.
Purchasing another person's text and using it as your own.
Presenting ideas in the same format and order as your research source.

Similarity Score and Acceptable Limits

The Shodhpith International Multidisciplinary Research Journal follows guidelines regarding similarity thresholds to determine the acceptability of manuscripts. The standard similarity score limits is:

Below 10% – Acceptable, considered original work.

Plagiarism Detection Process

Initial Screening: All submitted manuscripts undergo a preliminary plagiarism check using reliable software.
Editorial Review: The editorial board reviews the similarity report and evaluates whether the identified overlaps are properly cited and within acceptable limits.
Decision Making: If plagiarism is within the acceptable range, the manuscript proceeds to the peer-review process. and If plagiarism exceeds acceptable limits, the manuscript is returned to the author for correction or outright rejected.
Reevaluation After Revisions: If revisions are made, the revised manuscript is rechecked for plagiarism before final acceptance.

Consequences of Plagiarism

If plagiarism is detected at any stage—before or after publication—the following actions will be taken:

Pre-Publication Stage: The manuscript is either sent back for revision or rejected based on the similarity score.
Post-Publication Stage: If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the paper may be retracted from the journal’s archive. and The author(s) may be blacklisted from submitting future papers to the journal. and The institution or funding body associated with the author(s) may be informed.

The journal reserves the right to take strict action against authors who engage in unethical research practices.

Important Point

Give credit to references.
Mention all sources of information.
Provide acknowledgments and footnotes.
Avoid Paraphrase the authentic work.
Seek permission from the creator of the original work for extensive quotations.
Take permission from the publisher of the previous article written by you to avoid self-plagiarism.
Seek permission for the use of published illustrations.

The Shodhpith International Multidisciplinary Research Journal upholds the highest standards of research integrity and publication ethics. The journal strictly enforces plagiarism prevention policies to maintain academic credibility and authenticity. Authors are urged to adhere to ethical writing standards, ensuring that their work is free from plagiarism and within the permissible similarity limits as per guidelines. Failure to comply with these standards will result in strict consequences, including manuscript rejection, retraction, or blacklisting. By submitting a manuscript to this journal, authors agree to abide by these plagiarism prevention policies and uphold the principles of ethical research and publication.

AI-Generated Content Policy

The Shodhpith International Multidisciplinary Research Journal is a peer-reviewed, refereed, multidisciplinary, and online published research journal committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical research practices. With the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in research and content generation, it is essential to establish clear guidelines to regulate their use in academic publications. This AI-Generated Content Policy aligns with guidelines and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) standards to ensure transparency, accountability, and ethical compliance in research and scholarly work submitted to the journal.

➤ Definition of AI-Generated Content:

AI-generated content refers to any text, data, images, tables, or research outputs created, edited, or significantly modified using AI-based tools such as:

☀ Generative AI models (e.g., ChatGPT, GPT-4, Bard, DeepL, Jasper AI, etc.).
☀ AI-assisted writing tools (e.g., Grammarly, Quillbot, Hemingway, etc.).
☀ AI-generated research analysis (e.g., Scite, Elicit, SciSpace, etc.).
☀ AI-powered data visualization or image generation (e.g., DALL•E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, etc.)

➤ Acceptable Use of AI in Research and Publications:

Authors may use AI tools for certain purposes in research, provided that:

✔ AI tools are used only as an assistive technology for language enhancement, grammar correction, or formatting, rather than for content generation.
✔ The main research contribution, findings, and conclusions are the author’s original work and not generated by AI.
✔ AI-generated images, data visualizations, or content are explicitly labeled and cited in the manuscript.
✔ AI usage is disclosed in the methodology or acknowledgments section of the paper, stating how AI tools were utilized.

➤ Prohibited Uses of AI in Manuscripts:

Authors must not:

❌ Use AI to generate the entire manuscript, including research findings, literature reviews, or conclusions.
❌ Use AI-generated citations or references, as they may be fabricated and unverifiable.
❌ Manipulate AI-generated content to mimic original research without genuine analysis or scientific validation.
❌ Use AI tools to bypass plagiarism detection software or create misleading content.
❌ Fail to disclose the use of AI in the research process, which may lead to ethical violations.

If AI-generated content is found to be misleading or significantly contributing to the research without proper disclosure, the manuscript will be rejected or retracted.

➤ Disclosure and Declaration Requirements:

To maintain transparency and academic integrity, authors must:

◉ Clearly state in the acknowledgment or methodology section if AI tools were used and specify their purpose.
◉ Confirm that AI did not contribute to data interpretation, hypothesis generation, or critical research analysis.
◉ Declare in the author contribution statement that all authors take full responsibility for the accuracy and originality of the work.

➤ Editorial and Peer Review Guidelines for AI-Generated Content:

The editorial board and peer reviewers will:

❱ Conduct plagiarism checks and AI-generated content detection using advanced tools.
❱ Scrutinize manuscripts to ensure that research findings are original and AI-generated material is properly disclosed.
❱ Reject papers where AI has been used to generate research results, experimental analysis, or citations.
❱ Request clarifications from authors if AI use is suspected but not declared.

➤ Consequences of Violating the AI-Generated Content Policy:

Authors failing to comply with this policy may face the following actions:

■ Manuscript Rejection: If AI-generated content is found without disclosure or contributes to research manipulation.
■ Retraction of Published Work: If an article is found to violate the AI policy post-publication, it will be removed from the journal database.
■ Blacklisting of Authors: Authors found engaging in repeated violations may be restricted from submitting future papers.
■ Notification to Affiliating Institutions: In severe cases, the author’s affiliated institution or funding body may be informed.

➤ Ethical Considerations and Future Updates:

Since AI technology is evolving rapidly, this policy will be periodically reviewed and updated as per guidelines and international ethical standards. Authors, editors, and reviewers must stay informed about emerging AI regulations and their implications on academic publishing.
✅ By submitting a manuscript to Shodhpith International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, authors agree to comply with this AI-Generated Content Policy and uphold the highest standards of research integrity.