1. Introduction

The Sunan Ampel Review of Political and Social Sciences (SARPASS) upholds a strict anti-plagiarism policy to ensure the integrity, originality, and academic credibility of all published works. SARPASS is committed to promoting original scholarship and maintaining high standards of publication ethics.

By submitting a manuscript to SARPASS, authors confirm that their work is original, has not been improperly copied or reproduced from other sources, and appropriately acknowledges all sources, ideas, data, and materials used in the manuscript.

2. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use, reproduction, or presentation of another person's ideas, words, data, findings, or creative work without appropriate acknowledgment or attribution. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying text, sentences, paragraphs, or substantial portions of another work without quotation marks and appropriate citation.

• Paraphrasing another author's work without proper attribution.

• Reproducing figures, tables, datasets, research findings, or other materials without appropriate permission or acknowledgment.

• Presenting existing ideas, theories, concepts, or interpretations as original contributions.

• Self-plagiarism, including the substantial reuse of an author's previously published material without appropriate citation, disclosure, or justification.

• Submitting substantially similar or identical manuscripts to multiple journals simultaneously without disclosure.

All forms of plagiarism are considered serious violations of academic and publication ethics and are strictly prohibited by SARPASS.

3. Plagiarism Screening and Similarity Threshold

All manuscripts submitted to SARPASS are subject to plagiarism and similarity screening before proceeding to the peer-review process.

• Screening Process: Submitted manuscripts are screened for textual similarity as part of the initial editorial assessment.

• Detection Tools: SARPASS uses Turnitin or other appropriate similarity-detection tools available to the journal.

• Similarity Threshold: The journal generally considers a maximum similarity index of 25%, excluding references, bibliographies, and properly quoted or cited material.

• Editorial Assessment: Similarity reports are evaluated carefully by the editorial team to distinguish legitimate overlap, such as commonly used methodological terminology or properly cited material, from potential plagiarism.

A similarity score below the stated threshold does not automatically establish that a manuscript is free from plagiarism. Conversely, a score above the threshold does not automatically constitute plagiarism. Each case is assessed by the editorial team based on the nature, location, extent, and source of the identified similarities.

4. Consequences of Plagiarism

Before Publication

If plagiarism is identified during the screening or peer-review process, the manuscript may be rejected or returned to the authors for clarification or revision, depending on the severity and nature of the identified problem.

In cases involving substantial or intentional plagiarism, the Editorial Board may reject the manuscript and, where appropriate, notify the relevant institution or organization affiliated with the authors.

After Publication

If credible allegations of plagiarism arise after an article has been published, SARPASS will conduct an appropriate investigation in accordance with applicable publication-ethics procedures.

If plagiarism is confirmed, possible actions may include:

• Publication of a correction or clarification where appropriate;

• Retraction of the article in accordance with the journal's retraction policy;

• Publication of a formal retraction notice explaining the reason for the action; and

• Notification of the authors' affiliated institution or relevant authority where appropriate.

SARPASS reserves the right to take additional measures when warranted by the seriousness and circumstances of the misconduct.

5. Author Responsibilities and Ethical Handling

Authors are fully responsible for ensuring the originality and academic integrity of their submitted manuscripts. Authors must properly acknowledge all sources and obtain the necessary permissions for copyrighted materials, including figures, tables, images, datasets, and other third-party content where required.

Authors are also responsible for disclosing any substantial overlap between the submitted manuscript and their previously published or concurrently submitted works.

When allegations of plagiarism arise, SARPASS will handle the matter fairly and confidentially in accordance with established publication-ethics principles. Authors will be given an appropriate opportunity to provide an explanation or response before a final editorial decision is made.

SARPASS is committed to maintaining transparency, fairness, and academic integrity in all plagiarism-related matters. This policy may be reviewed and updated periodically to remain consistent with recognized standards and best practices in scholarly publishing.