Plagiarism and Similarity Check Policy

Journal of Education and Teacher Training Innovation (JETTI) is committed to maintaining academic integrity and ensuring the originality of all manuscripts submitted for publication. To support this commitment, all submitted manuscripts are screened for text similarity using Turnitin.

The maximum acceptable similarity score is 25%. Manuscripts with a similarity score above 25% may be returned to the authors for revision and clarification before proceeding to the next stage of the editorial process. In cases where substantial similarity or potential plagiarism is identified, the manuscript may be rejected in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policy.

The similarity score is used as an initial screening indicator and does not, by itself, constitute a determination of plagiarism. The editorial team examines the Similarity Report and considers the sources and context of the identified similarities, including properly cited quotations, references, commonly used terminology, and other legitimate matches. This approach is consistent with Turnitin's guidance that similarity and plagiarism are not equivalent.

Similarity Screening Procedure

The journal applies the following similarity-checking procedure:

Initial Screening
Manuscripts are checked using Turnitin during the initial editorial screening after submission.
Editorial Assessment
The editorial team reviews the Similarity Report to identify potentially problematic similarities. A manuscript exceeding the 25% threshold may be returned to the author for revision or further clarification.
Final Screening
A second similarity check is conducted before the manuscript is formally published to ensure that the final version remains within the journal's similarity threshold.
Editorial Decision
The final decision concerning potential plagiarism or inappropriate textual similarity is made by the editor based on the Similarity Report and examination of the relevant sources. The similarity percentage alone is not used as the sole basis for determining plagiarism.

Note: The 25% threshold is a journal policy for editorial screening and should not be interpreted as a universal definition of plagiarism. A similarity score below 25% does not automatically establish that a manuscript is free from plagiarism, while legitimate quotations and properly cited material may contribute to the similarity score.