Plagiarism Guidelines
Originality is a basic condition of publication in the World Review of Research and Innovation (WRRI). These guidelines explain how the journal checks for plagiarism and how it responds when problems are found.
1. Turnitin Screening
Every manuscript submitted to WRRI is run through Turnitin to identify overlapping text and possible plagiarism or improper reuse. The editorial office may share the Originality Report with authors when it asks for clarification or revision. A similarity score shows only how much text matches other sources; it is not, by itself, a finding of plagiarism.
2. HEC Pakistan Standards
WRRI applies the plagiarism and originality policies of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, including its guidance on interpreting Turnitin reports, and has zero tolerance for plagiarism. All ideas, words, data and arguments taken from other work must be properly credited.
3. How Reports Are Interpreted
Editors look behind the overall percentage, since a high score may be harmless and a low score may hide a problem. They consider:
- which sources are matched;
- the location and type of each match;
- whether matched material is cited;
- whether matches are short phrases or long passages;
- whether quotations are marked as such;
- whether the reference list is raising the score;
- whether the match is to the authors' own earlier publications; and
- whether the overlap is standard technical or methodological wording.
4. Acceptable and Unacceptable Overlap
Short common phrases, standard terms, routine descriptions of methods and correctly cited quotations are not normally plagiarism. Copying sentences, paragraphs, arguments, results or interpretations without acknowledgement is. Unattributed overlap in the results, discussion and conclusions is treated with particular concern.
5. Reuse of Data and Figures
Data, results, tables, figures and images from other work may be reused only with citation and, where necessary, permission.
6. Attribution
Every borrowed idea, phrase, argument, dataset, table or figure must be cited. Cited material may still be flagged by the software and is judged in context. Failing to attribute can be plagiarism even when the overall score is low.
7. Text Recycling
Overlap with an author's own previous work is not automatically misconduct, but substantial undisclosed reuse amounts to self-plagiarism or redundant publication. Reasonable overlap with the author's thesis, dissertation, preprint or conference paper is acceptable if it is disclosed and cited.
8. No Fixed Threshold Decisions
WRRI does not accept or reject a manuscript on the strength of a percentage alone. The Turnitin report is a screening tool; the editorial judgement depends on what is matched and why. Authors may be asked to rewrite, cite or explain before the paper moves on.
9. Requests for Revision
Where overlap needs correcting but is not serious plagiarism, authors may be asked to:
- rewrite reused passages in their own words;
- add missing citations;
- clarify the origin of material;
- acknowledge their own earlier work;
- remove repeated content; or
- explain particular matches.
The paper proceeds only when the editors are satisfied.
10. Serious Plagiarism
Where substantial plagiarism or other serious misconduct is established, WRRI may reject the paper without review or take further steps under its Publication Ethics policy. Plagiarism discovered after publication may result in a correction, an expression of concern or retraction.
11. Fabrication and Falsification
Inventing or manipulating data, results, sources, images or quotations is a separate form of misconduct and is dealt with under the Publication Ethics policy.
12. AI-Generated Text
Authors must make sure that any AI-assisted text is free of unattributed material, invented references and misleading statements, and must follow the AI Policy.
13. Reporting Concerns
Editors and reviewers should report suspected plagiarism, text recycling or duplicate publication to the editorial office. Every case is handled fairly and in confidence.
14. Confidential Records
Similarity reports and related correspondence are confidential and are disclosed only for legitimate editorial, ethical, institutional or legal reasons.
15. Our Position
WRRI does not tolerate plagiarism. It follows HEC Pakistan guidance, screens all submissions with Turnitin and expects every author to practise honest, properly attributed scholarship.
Contact: editor@wrri.ibexinstitute.org