Plagiarism and Similarity Policy

Caruban: Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan Dasar is committed to maintaining academic integrity and ensuring the originality of all published articles. All manuscripts submitted to the journal are subject to a similarity check as part of the initial editorial screening process.

The similarity check is conducted to identify substantial textual overlap between the submitted manuscript and previously published or publicly available sources. The purpose of this process is to support academic integrity, proper attribution, and responsible scholarly communication.

1. Similarity Checking Process

All submitted manuscripts may be screened using a recognized similarity-detection tool before or during the editorial process.

The similarity check may be conducted:

  • during the initial editorial screening;

  • before the manuscript is sent to peer review;

  • after manuscript revision; and/or

  • before final publication.

The editor may conduct additional similarity checks whenever considered necessary.

2. Similarity Threshold

As a general editorial guideline, the overall similarity of a manuscript should preferably be below 20%.

However, the similarity percentage is not used as the sole basis for determining whether a manuscript contains plagiarism.

The editor will examine the similarity report to determine:

  • the source of the similarity;

  • the extent and nature of the overlapping text;

  • whether the overlap consists of properly cited material;

  • whether the similarity occurs in standard terminology or methodological expressions;

  • whether the similarity involves references, quotations, or other unavoidable textual elements; and

  • whether there is evidence of inappropriate copying or unattributed use of another author's work.

A manuscript with a similarity score below 20% may still be subject to further investigation if substantial unattributed overlap is identified. Conversely, a manuscript with a higher similarity score may not necessarily constitute plagiarism if the similarity is primarily attributable to properly cited quotations, references, standard terminology, or other legitimate similarities.

3. Editorial Assessment

The similarity report is interpreted by the editor rather than evaluated solely on the basis of the numerical score.

Depending on the findings, the editor may take one or more of the following actions:

  1. Proceed to Peer Review
    If the identified similarities are considered legitimate and do not indicate academic misconduct.

  2. Return to Authors for Revision
    If inappropriate textual overlap, inadequate paraphrasing, or insufficient citation is identified but can reasonably be corrected.

  3. Request Clarification
    If the nature or source of the similarity requires further explanation from the authors.

  4. Reject the Manuscript
    If substantial plagiarism or other serious violations of academic integrity are identified.

4. Self-Similarity and Reuse of Previous Work

Authors must appropriately acknowledge their own previously published work when reusing ideas, text, data, figures, or other materials.

Substantial reuse of previously published material without appropriate citation or disclosure may constitute redundant publication or self-plagiarism.

Authors should clearly distinguish new contributions from material that has appeared in their previous publications.

5. Proper Citation and Paraphrasing

Authors are responsible for ensuring that ideas, statements, findings, data, figures, and other intellectual contributions derived from other sources are properly acknowledged.

Simply changing a few words from an original source does not constitute appropriate paraphrasing.

Authors should:

  • express borrowed ideas in their own academic language;

  • provide appropriate citations;

  • use direct quotations only when necessary;

  • clearly identify quoted material; and

  • provide complete bibliographic information in the reference list.

6. Similarity in Standard Academic Expressions

Some textual similarity may be unavoidable because of:

  • standard research terminology;

  • names of theories, instruments, or established methods;

  • commonly used methodological expressions;

  • technical terms;

  • institutional or legal terminology; and

  • titles or bibliographic information.

Such similarities are not automatically considered plagiarism.

The editor will consider the context and nature of the similarity when evaluating the manuscript.

7. Manuscript Revision

If the similarity check identifies problematic overlap that can be corrected, the authors may be asked to revise the relevant sections of the manuscript.

Authors may be required to:

  • improve paraphrasing;

  • add missing citations;

  • replace inappropriate direct quotations;

  • clarify the relationship with previously published work; or

  • remove unnecessarily duplicated text.

A revised manuscript may be checked again before the editorial process continues.

8. Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct

Caruban considers plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct serious violations of publication ethics.

Potential misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • copying text without appropriate attribution;

  • presenting another person's ideas as one's own;

  • substantial unattributed reuse of previously published material;

  • inappropriate reuse of one's own previously published work;

  • unauthorized reproduction of tables, figures, or other copyrighted materials; and

  • manipulation intended to conceal textual similarity.

Suspected cases of plagiarism or academic misconduct will be handled in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics policy and recognized publication-ethics principles.

9. Post-Publication Similarity Concerns

Similarity concerns may also be investigated after an article has been published.

If substantial plagiarism, redundant publication, or other forms of academic misconduct are identified after publication, the journal may take appropriate corrective action.

Depending on the seriousness of the issue, actions may include:

  • issuing a correction;

  • publishing an editorial notice;

  • contacting the authors or their affiliated institution; or

  • retracting the article.

The action taken will depend on the nature, extent, and significance of the identified problem.

10. Responsibility of Authors

Authors are ultimately responsible for the originality and integrity of their submitted manuscripts.

Before submission, authors should:

  • conduct an internal similarity check where possible;

  • ensure that all borrowed ideas and materials are properly cited;

  • review all paraphrased sections carefully;

  • verify the accuracy of references and citations; and

  • ensure that the manuscript does not contain inappropriate duplication from their own or others' previous publications.

11. Editorial Discretion

The similarity percentage generated by a detection tool is considered an editorial screening indicator, not a definitive determination of plagiarism.

The final assessment of potential plagiarism or academic misconduct is made through editorial evaluation of the relevant text, sources, context, and evidence.

Caruban reserves the right to apply additional checks or request clarification whenever necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

12. Commitment to Academic Integrity

Caruban: Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan Dasar is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent, and responsible publication process.

The journal expects all authors, editors, reviewers, and other parties involved in publication to uphold the principles of originality, proper attribution, honesty, transparency, and academic integrity.

This policy should be read together with the journal's Publication Ethics, Author Guidelines, and Retraction Policy.