Plagiarism Policy

Fast in Social Sciences (FSS) is committed to maintaining academic integrity and preventing all forms of plagiarism and unethical publishing practices. The journal considers plagiarism as a serious violation of publication ethics and does not tolerate any form of academic misconduct.

All submitted manuscripts must represent original work conducted by the authors and must properly acknowledge the contributions, ideas, data, and findings of other researchers.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the use of another person's ideas, words, data, methods, or intellectual contributions without proper acknowledgment or citation.

Plagiarism may occur in various forms, including but not limited to:

1. Direct Plagiarism

The reproduction of words, sentences, paragraphs, or sections from another source without appropriate quotation and citation.

2. Mosaic Plagiarism

The practice of combining phrases, ideas, or structures from multiple sources without proper acknowledgment.

3. Paraphrasing Plagiarism

The use of another author's ideas or concepts by changing wording or sentence structure without providing proper citation.

4. Self-Plagiarism

The reuse of significant parts of an author's previously published work without appropriate disclosure, citation, or justification.

5. Duplicate Publication

Submitting or publishing substantially similar research findings in more than one journal without proper explanation or permission.

6. Data or Figure Misuse

Using research data, tables, figures, images, or other materials from previous works without proper authorization and citation.

Similarity Checking Process

All manuscripts submitted to Fast in Social Sciences (FSS) may undergo similarity checking using plagiarism detection software before entering the peer-review process.

The editorial team evaluates similarity reports carefully by considering:

  • The percentage of similarity;
  • The source of matched content;
  • The context of similarity;
  • Proper citation and referencing practices.

A similarity score alone does not determine plagiarism. Editorial decisions are based on academic judgment and ethical evaluation.

Similarity Threshold

Fast in Social Sciences (FSS) recommends that submitted manuscripts maintain an acceptable similarity level according to academic publishing standards.

As a general guideline:

  • Similarity below 20%: Normally acceptable, subject to editorial evaluation.
  • Similarity between 20–30%: Requires careful examination and possible revision.
  • Similarity above 30%: May be returned to authors for substantial revision or rejected.

The editorial team reserves the right to evaluate each manuscript individually depending on the nature of the similarity and the research field.

Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts to Fast in Social Sciences (FSS) are responsible for ensuring that:

  1. The manuscript is their original work.
  2. All sources, references, and previous research findings are properly cited.
  3. Permission is obtained for copyrighted materials when necessary.
  4. Previously published materials are clearly acknowledged.
  5. The manuscript is not simultaneously submitted to another journal.

Authors are fully responsible for any plagiarism or ethical violations identified before or after publication.

Editorial Actions on Plagiarism

If plagiarism or unethical practices are identified during the submission or review process, Fast in Social Sciences (FSS) may take appropriate actions, including:

Before Publication:

  • Returning the manuscript to authors for correction;
  • Requesting clarification from authors;
  • Rejecting the manuscript if serious misconduct is identified.

After Publication:

If plagiarism is discovered after publication, the journal may:

  • Publish a correction notice;
  • Issue an expression of concern;
  • Retract the published article;
  • Notify relevant institutions or stakeholders when necessary.

All actions will follow internationally accepted publication ethics guidelines.

Prevention of Research Misconduct

Fast in Social Sciences (FSS) encourages authors, reviewers, and editors to maintain responsible research and publishing practices by:

  • Providing accurate citations;
  • Reporting research findings honestly;
  • Avoiding manipulation of data or references;
  • Respecting intellectual property rights;
  • Following ethical research standards.

Use of Artificial Intelligence and Plagiarism

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools does not replace authors' responsibility for originality and academic integrity.

Authors must ensure that AI-assisted writing, analysis, or content generation does not result in:

  • Uncredited reproduction of existing works;
  • Fabricated references;
  • Misrepresentation of original contributions.

AI-generated content must be critically reviewed and appropriately disclosed when applicable.

Final Statement

Fast in Social Sciences (FSS) follows internationally recognized publication ethics principles, including the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), to ensure that all published articles maintain originality, transparency, and academic integrity.

The journal is committed to protecting the reliability of the scholarly record and promoting responsible research communication.