Palita: Journal of Social-Religion Research is committed to maintaining academic integrity and publishing original, high-quality scholarly work. The journal strictly opposes plagiarism, duplicate publication, and other practices that violate publication ethics. All submitted manuscripts must demonstrate originality, acknowledge the contributions of other authors appropriately, and comply with the journal's publication policies.

1. Originality and Duplicate Publication

Submission to Palita indicates that the manuscript is original, has not been published previously, and is not under consideration for publication by another journal. Authors must disclose any related publications, overlapping manuscripts, or prior dissemination that may affect the originality of the submission.

When authors use ideas, data, text, figures, tables, or other material from previously published work, whether in English or another language, they must provide appropriate attribution and obtain permission from the relevant copyright holder when required. Reusing one's own previously published material without proper acknowledgment may also constitute self-plagiarism or redundant publication.

2. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism involves using another person's ideas, words, data, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment or presenting them in a manner that misrepresents their origin. It may include unattributed textual copying, improper paraphrasing, misuse of intellectual property, and the unauthorized appropriation of another person's work.

The journal evaluates suspected plagiarism in accordance with accepted standards of research integrity, the context of the material, the adequacy of attribution, and the available evidence. Similarity scores alone do not establish plagiarism, because legitimate quotations, references, standard terminology, and commonly used expressions may also produce textual matches.

3. Similarity Screening

Palita uses Turnitin originality-checking software to screen submitted manuscripts and final article files for textual similarities. Authors are strongly encouraged to check their manuscripts before submission and ensure that all borrowed material is properly cited.

The journal applies a maximum similarity index of 25% as an initial screening threshold. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold will normally be returned to the authors for clarification, revision, and resubmission where appropriate. However, a similarity index of 25% or below does not automatically establish originality, and a higher score does not, by itself, prove plagiarism.

Editors assess similarity reports by examining the sources and nature of the matched text, citation practices, the extent of overlap, and the sections affected. This assessment enables the journal to distinguish legitimate textual similarities from potentially unethical reuse and determine whether further action is necessary.

4. Editorial Action and Consequences

Manuscripts containing confirmed plagiarism or unacceptable duplicate publication will not be accepted for publication. When the initial screening identifies potential problems, the editors may request an explanation or revision, reject the manuscript, or conduct further assessment according to the seriousness of the concern.

If suspected plagiarism or publication misconduct is identified after publication, the editors will examine the available evidence and, where appropriate, contact the authors for an explanation. The journal may also consult the authors' affiliated institutions, funding bodies, or other relevant parties when necessary and justified.

Depending on the findings, editorial action may include a correction, an expression of concern, or retraction of the published article. Retraction will be considered when the evidence establishes that the article is unreliable or that its publication integrity has been fundamentally compromised. The journal will document its decision transparently in accordance with its Publication Ethics and Corrections and Retractions policies.

5. Authors' Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality of their submissions, acknowledging all sources accurately, obtaining necessary permissions, and disclosing any relevant overlap with previously published work. They must cooperate with editorial inquiries and provide clarification or supporting documentation when the editors raise legitimate concerns about originality or publication ethics.

By submitting a manuscript to Palita, authors confirm that they understand and agree to comply with this policy. The journal reserves the right to reject submissions or take appropriate post-publication action when reliable evidence establishes a breach of publication ethics.