Plagiarism Policy

 

The International Review of Education and Learning Sciences (IRELS) is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and takes plagiarism and related forms of academic misconduct strictly seriously.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct copying of text, ideas, data, or figures from other sources without proper citation.
  • Substantial similarity to previously published work, including the author’s own work (self-plagiarism), without appropriate acknowledgment.
  • Unattributed paraphrasing or translation of existing works.
  • Submission of manuscripts generated or substantially assisted by third parties without proper disclosure.

Screening & Similarity

Screening Process

All submitted manuscripts are subject to plagiarism screening using similarity detection software (e.g., Turnitin/iThenticate) prior to or during the peer review process. Similarity reports are evaluated by editors in context; the presence of text similarity does not automatically constitute plagiarism.

Acceptable vs. Unacceptable Similarity
✓ Minor overlap in methods descriptions or standard definitions/references may be acceptable.
✕ Substantial overlap in results, discussion, or original contributions is not acceptable.

Handling Suspected Plagiarism

If plagiarism is suspected at any stage of the submission or publication process, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Request an explanation or revision from the authors.
  • Reject the manuscript immediately.
  • Retract the published article and issue a public notice.
  • Notify the authors’ affiliated institutions, where appropriate.
Plagiarism After Publication

If plagiarism is discovered after publication, IRELS will investigate the matter and may issue a correction, retraction, or expression of concern in accordance with the journal’s ethical policies and COPE guidelines.