Plagiarism Policy

SASI is committed to publishing original scholarly works and preventing plagiarism, redundant publication, duplicate submission, citation manipulation, and other forms of publication misconduct. Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts are original, properly cited, and have not been published or submitted elsewhere at the same time.

Plagiarism includes copying text, ideas, data, arguments, tables, figures, or other materials from another source without proper acknowledgment; improper paraphrasing; using another author's work without citation; self-plagiarism or inappropriate text recycling; redundant or duplicate publication; and presenting previously published material as new scholarly work.

Similarity Check

Every manuscript submitted to SASI may be checked for similarity using iThenticate and/or other appropriate similarity checking methods before proceeding to peer review or publication.

The maximum similarity tolerance is 20% excluding bibliography. However, the similarity percentage is not by itself a determination of plagiarism. The editorial team also considers the nature, location, and source of the similarities, citation accuracy, quotation practices, legitimate use of standard terminology or legal language, overlap with the authors' previous publications, and whether the similarity indicates plagiarism, redundant publication, inappropriate text recycling, or other publication misconduct.

Editorial Screening Process

The editorial team checks submitted manuscripts through the following process:

  1. manual screening of the manuscript for originality, proper citation, quotation, authorship, and relevance to the journal's Focus and Scope;
  2. similarity checking using iThenticate;
  3. editorial assessment of the similarity report, including the nature and source of identified similarities and whether the similarities are properly cited, quoted, or otherwise academically justified;
  4. where necessary, the editorial team may request an explanation or revision from the authors before making a decision;
  5. editorial decision on whether the manuscript may proceed to peer review, must be revised, or must be rejected.

Plagiarism and Redundant Publication

SASI distinguishes between legitimate textual overlap and plagiarism or redundant publication. Similarity may arise from properly quoted or cited material, standard legal terminology, titles of laws or regulations, names of institutions, commonly used methodological expressions, or other legitimate scholarly uses of existing language. Such similarity does not automatically constitute plagiarism.

More substantial or unjustified overlap may constitute plagiarism, inappropriate text recycling, redundant publication, or duplicate publication, particularly where previously published material is presented as original, previous work is not properly acknowledged, or the overlap may mislead readers about the originality of the manuscript.

Authors are responsible for disclosing relevant previous publications and related manuscripts that may overlap substantially with the submitted work. The editorial team may request copies or additional information concerning related publications when necessary to assess originality and possible redundancy.

Consequences of Plagiarism and Publication Misconduct

Manuscripts with excessive or unjustified similarity, plagiarism, improper citation, duplicate submission, redundant publication, citation manipulation, or other indications of publication misconduct may be returned to the authors for clarification, required to undergo revision, rejected before peer review, rejected after editorial assessment, or handled under the journal's Publication Ethics Policy.

The editorial response will depend on the nature and seriousness of the suspected misconduct, the extent of the overlap, the authors' explanation, and the available evidence. Where appropriate, the journal may seek additional information from the authors, their institutions, or other relevant parties.

If plagiarism, redundant publication, or other serious publication misconduct is identified after publication, SASI may issue a correction, expression of concern, retraction, article withdrawal, article removal, or article replacement in accordance with the journal's Retraction, Withdrawal, & Correction (R-W-C) Policy.

Author Responsibility

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all sources used in the manuscript are properly cited and that all quoted materials are clearly identified. Authors must ensure that the submitted manuscript is original and must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to another journal.

Authors must disclose relevant previous publications, manuscripts under consideration elsewhere, or other related works where there may be substantial overlap with the submitted manuscript. Where reuse of previously published material is legitimate and permitted, the original source must be properly acknowledged and any applicable copyright or licensing requirements must be respected.

Authors must not present previously published work, data, arguments, or substantial portions of text as new scholarly work. Authors are also responsible for avoiding inappropriate self-plagiarism, text recycling, redundant publication, and duplicate publication.

This policy supports the journal's commitment to publication ethics and refers to relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).