The International Journal of Psychology and Therapy (IJPT) maintains a zero-tolerance approach towards plagiarism and academic misconduct, recognising the importance of originality, transparency, and integrity in scholarly publishing. In alignment with international ethical standards and the expectations of indexing systems such as Scopus and the Web of Science, the journal ensures that all submitted manuscripts are thoroughly evaluated for authenticity and proper attribution. IJPT is committed to preserving the credibility of the academic record by preventing unethical practices and promoting responsible research conduct.

Screening and Detection Process

All manuscripts submitted to IJPT undergo systematic screening using professional plagiarism detection software prior to the initiation of the peer review process. This screening evaluates the extent of textual similarity with previously published works, including journal articles, books, conference papers, and online sources. The editorial team carefully reviews similarity reports to distinguish between acceptable overlap (such as references or standard methodological descriptions) and potential instances of plagiarism. Manuscripts found to contain significant unoriginal content may be rejected at any stage of the editorial process.

Acceptable Similarity Thresholds

IJPT follows clearly defined similarity benchmarks to guide editorial decisions:

• Below 10% — Considered acceptable, provided proper citation practices are followed
• 10–20% — Requires revision and clarification from the authors
• Above 20% — Considered unacceptable and subject to rejection

The journal acknowledges that certain elements, such as commonly used terminology, references, and standardised methodologies, may contribute to similarity scores and are evaluated at the discretion of the editorial team.

Forms of Plagiarism and Misconduct

The journal recognises multiple forms of plagiarism as serious ethical violations, including but not limited to:

• Direct copying of text without appropriate citation
• Paraphrasing or rewording without proper attribution
• Self-plagiarism or duplicate submission of previously published work
• Data fabrication or plagiarism of datasets
• Image or figure manipulation and reuse without permission
• Submission of AI-generated content presented as original scholarly work without disclosure

Such practices undermine the integrity of academic research and are strictly prohibited.

Actions and Consequences

In cases where plagiarism is detected, IJPT takes appropriate actions based on the severity and stage of the manuscript:

Before Publication:

• Immediate rejection of the manuscript
• Formal notification and warning to the author(s)

After Publication:

• Retraction of the published article
• Issuance of a public retraction notice on the journal website
• Notification to the author’s affiliated institution or relevant authorities
• In severe or repeated cases, a permanent ban on future submissions

All investigations are conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines and COPE recommendations, ensuring fairness and confidentiality.

Author Responsibility and Ethical Compliance

Authors are fully responsible for ensuring the originality of their work and for properly citing all sources used in their research. Submission to IJPT implies that the manuscript is free from plagiarism and has not been published or submitted elsewhere. Authors are encouraged to use plagiarism detection tools prior to submission to ensure compliance with journal standards.

Through the implementation of this policy, IJPT reinforces its commitment to ethical publishing practices and contributes to maintaining a trustworthy and credible scholarly environment in the field of psychology and technology.