PLAGIARISM POLICY

All manuscripts submitted to the Indonesian Journal of Character Education Studies (IJCES) will be screened for plagiarism using tools such as Turnitin and iThenticate to ensure compliance with international standards of academic integrity. Prior to peer review, the editorial team will check each submission for similarity to previously published works. IJCES enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism and self-plagiarism; any manuscript containing unacknowledged copied text, data, or ideas will be immediately rejected. Authors are expected to ensure proper citation, paraphrasing, and originality before submission. In cases of high similarity or unethical referencing, the editorial office reserves the right to reject the manuscript and apply further restrictions if necessary.

1. Plagiarism Levels and Editorial Actions
Plagiarism in any form is considered a serious breach of academic integrity. The Indonesian Journal of Character Education Studies (IJCES) categorizes plagiarism based on its severity and the similarity index detected by plagiarism detection software. The following are the classifications and corresponding editorial actions:

Based on Severity of Plagiarism:

• Minor Plagiarism: Minor plagiarism occurs when a short section of another article is copied without proper citation, but does not involve the use of significant data or original ideas from the source. Action: In such cases, the authors will be issued a formal warning. They will be requested to revise the plagiarized content and to provide appropriate citations to the original source.
• Intermediate Plagiarism: Intermediate plagiarism involves the uncredited use of a substantial portion of another paper without appropriate citation. Action: The manuscript will be rejected. Furthermore, the authors will be prohibited from submitting any new manuscripts to IJCES for a period of one year.
• Severe Plagiarism: Severe plagiarism is characterized by the unauthorized reproduction of significant original ideas or results from another publication. Action: The manuscript will be rejected immediately, and the authors will be banned from submitting any future manuscripts to IJCES for five years.

Based on Similarity Index:

• Similarity Index Above 40%: If the similarity index exceeds 40%, the manuscript will be rejected outright due to excessive overlap with other works. This includes instances of poor citation practices and/or inadequate paraphrasing. Action: The manuscript is rejected with no option for resubmission.
• Similarity Index Between 20–39%: If the similarity index is between 20% and 39%, the manuscript will be returned to the authors for revision. Authors must ensure that all instances of similarity are properly cited and paraphrased, even where citations are already present. Action: The manuscript is sent back for improvement and may be reconsidered after proper revision.
• Similarity Index Equal to or Less Than 20%: If the similarity index is 20% or below, the manuscript may be accepted, although minor revisions may be requested. Authors must ensure that all quoted or paraphrased content is cited correctly. Action: The manuscript is either accepted or minor citation improvements are requested before final acceptance.

Indonesian Journal of Character Education Studies (IJCES) upholds a zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism and is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. Authors are strongly advised to ensure the originality of their work and to cite all sources appropriately.

2. Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

Plagiarism is defined as the use of ideas, information, or wording from another source without giving proper credit. Regardless of whether it is committed intentionally or unintentionally, plagiarism represents a serious violation of academic ethics and is strictly prohibited in international scholarly publications.

A citation is required whenever an author obtains specific information from a source. This includes details such as names, dates, places, statistical figures, or other factual data. The only exception applies to information that qualifies as common knowledge, which refers to facts widely available in at least five credible sources and generally accepted by the public or scholars within a particular field.

When an author adopts an idea from another source, such as a way to interpret data, a methodological approach, a theoretical framework, or a broad development within a discipline, proper citation is still required. Even if the author further develops or modifies the idea, credit must be given to the original source. The author may expand upon or critique the idea in a subsequent sentence, but the initial acknowledgment remains essential.

When an author uses the exact words from another source, both a citation and quotation marks are required. If four or more consecutive words are copied verbatim, quotation marks must be used to clearly indicate that these words originate from another author. In such cases, a citation alone is insufficient and does not fulfill ethical standards for attribution.

The Indonesian Journal of Character Education Studies (IJCES) enforces a strict policy on academic integrity. The editorial board reserves the right to withdraw acceptance or retract a published article if it is found to violate any of the journal's standards related to plagiarism or improper source attribution.

Authors who need clarification regarding citation practices or plagiarism policies are encouraged to contact the journal’s editorial office.