Global Social Sciences Review (GSSR) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity. Plagiarism undermines the credibility of scholarly research and the academic publishing process. To uphold the integrity of published work, GSSR enforces a strict plagiarism policy.

Definition of Plagiarism: Plagiarism involves using someone else’s work, ideas, or expressions without proper acknowledgment, presenting them as one’s own. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. Copying Text: Directly copying text from other sources without quotation marks and proper citation.
2. Paraphrasing: Rewriting someone else’s ideas or findings without proper acknowledgment.
3. Unacknowledged Use of Data: Using data, figures, or tables from other sources without appropriate attribution.
4. Self-Plagiarism: Reusing one’s own previously published work without proper citation and permission.

1. GSSR Threshold: GSSR maintains a strict plagiarism threshold of 10%. Manuscripts exceeding this limit will be considered for rejection or require substantial revision.
2. HEC Threshold: For comparison, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has a higher threshold of 19%. However, GSSR’s policy is more stringent to ensure the highest standards of academic integrity.

1. Plagiarism Detection Tools: All submissions to GSSR are screened for plagiarism using advanced detection software to identify similarities with existing literature.
2. Author Responsibility: Authors are required to ensure that their submissions are free from plagiarism and properly cite all sources of information and ideas.

1. Initial Review: If plagiarism is suspected, the manuscript will undergo an initial review by the editor to assess the extent of the issue.
2. Verification: The suspected plagiarism will be verified by comparing the manuscript with the identified sources. Authors may be asked to provide explanations or additional information if necessary.

1. Minor Plagiarism: For minor cases of plagiarism, such as inadequate citation or unintentional errors, authors will be required to make corrections before publication. The manuscript may be returned for revision and resubmission.
2. Major Plagiarism: In cases of significant or deliberate plagiarism, the manuscript will be rejected, and the authors will be notified. If the manuscript has already been published, a retraction notice will be issued, and the paper will be removed from the journal’s archives.
3. Repeated Offenses: Authors found guilty of repeated or severe plagiarism may be banned from submitting future work to GSSR. Additionally, the editor may inform the author’s affiliated institution or funding body.

Originality Statement: Authors are required to submit a statement of originality confirming that their manuscript is free from plagiarism and that all sources of information have been properly cited.

Right to Appeal: Authors who believe that their work has been wrongly accused of plagiarism may appeal the decision. The appeal will be reviewed by the editorial board, and a final decision will be made based on a thorough investigation.

Public Disclosure: In cases where a retraction or correction is necessary due to plagiarism, GSSR will issue a notice detailing the reasons for the action to ensure transparency and maintain trust in the academic community.