Plagiarism Policy

The IJLECR (nternational Journal of Language Education and Cultural Review) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, transparency, and ethical scholarly publishing. In accordance with the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), IJLECR strictly prohibits plagiarism, including the unauthorized reproduction, paraphrasing, or appropriation of another person's ideas, words, research findings, or intellectual contributions without proper acknowledgment. All submitted manuscripts must represent original scholarly work and comply with the journal's publication ethics and author guidelines.

1. Plagiarism Screening Using Turnitin

All manuscripts submitted to IJLECR are subject to plagiarism screening using Turnitin before proceeding to the peer-review process. The editorial team evaluates the originality of each manuscript through Turnitin's Similarity Report to identify potential text overlap with previously published scholarly publications, online sources, academic documents, and other available materials. Authors are required to submit a Turnitin Similarity Report together with their manuscript, demonstrating a maximum similarity index of 20%. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold may be returned to the authors for revision or rejected during the initial editorial screening. The editorial team reserves the right to conduct an independent Turnitin examination to verify the submitted report and assess the nature of any detected similarities.

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Writing Detection

In addition to conventional plagiarism screening, IJLECR applies Turnitin's AI Writing Detection feature to assess the potential involvement of artificial intelligence in manuscript preparation. Authors must submit an AI Writing Detection Report generated by Turnitin indicating a maximum AI writing detection score of 20%. Manuscripts with an AI detection score exceeding this threshold may be subject to further editorial evaluation, clarification, or revision before being considered for peer review. Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts demonstrate genuine intellectual contributions, scholarly originality, accurate citations, and appropriate disclosure of generative AI assistance. AI detection results are treated as preliminary indicators rather than definitive evidence of misconduct, and editorial decisions must consider the limitations and potential inaccuracies of automated detection systems.

3. Mandatory Submission of Turnitin Reports

All authors submitting manuscripts to IJLECR must provide the following documents as part of the initial submission requirements:

Turnitin Similarity Report: A plagiarism similarity report demonstrating a maximum overall similarity index of 20%.
Turnitin AI Writing Detection Report: An AI writing detection report indicating a maximum AI-generated writing score of 20%, where the detection feature is applicable and produces a reportable result.

Both reports must correspond to the submitted manuscript version and be uploaded as supplementary submission documents through the IJLECR online submission system. Manuscripts submitted without the required reports may be returned to the corresponding author for completion before editorial evaluation. IJLECR reserves the right to verify both reports independently.

4. Similarity and AI Detection Thresholds

IJLECR establishes the following screening thresholds to support manuscript originality and responsible academic writing:

Screening Component	Maximum Threshold	Screening Tool
Text Similarity Index	20%	Turnitin Similarity Report
AI Writing Detection Score	20%	Turnitin AI Writing Detection

A similarity index of 20% or below does not automatically guarantee that a manuscript is free from plagiarism. Similarly, an AI writing detection score does not independently establish whether academic misconduct has occurred. The editorial team will examine the relevant passages, citation practices, source attribution, and other contextual evidence before making editorial decisions. The two screening results are evaluated separately and must not be interpreted as interchangeable measures.

5. Types of Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct

IJLECR prohibits various forms of plagiarism and unethical scholarly practices, including direct plagiarism, mosaic plagiarism, inappropriate paraphrasing, plagiarism of ideas, self-plagiarism, and the unauthorized use of research findings or intellectual property. The journal also prohibits fabricated references, falsified research data, misleading citations, and the presentation of AI-generated or externally produced material as independently verified scholarly work. Authors must properly acknowledge all sources and remain accountable for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their manuscripts.

6. Editorial Actions and Handling of Violations

Manuscripts that fail to comply with IJLECR's plagiarism and AI writing screening requirements may be returned for revision, subjected to additional editorial investigation, or rejected, depending on the nature and severity of the identified concerns. When plagiarism or other research integrity violations are suspected, the editorial team will follow relevant COPE guidance and provide authors with an opportunity to explain or clarify the findings. For published articles, confirmed violations may result in appropriate post-publication actions, including corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, in accordance with established publication ethics procedures.

7. Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts are original, properly referenced, and compliant with IJLECR's plagiarism and AI writing policies. The corresponding author must ensure that the required Turnitin Similarity Report and AI Writing Detection Report are submitted alongside the manuscript and that all co-authors understand and comply with these requirements. Authors must accurately acknowledge external sources, disclose substantive AI assistance where applicable, and verify the reliability of all references, interpretations, and research findings. Compliance with the established screening thresholds does not exempt authors from their broader responsibilities concerning research integrity and ethical scholarly communication.