Plagiarism and Similarity Screening Policy

Golden Ratio is committed to maintaining the originality, integrity, and ethical standards of all published scholarly work. To support this commitment, manuscripts are subject to textual similarity screening as part of the journal's editorial quality-control process.

Similarity Screening

All submitted manuscripts, including revised manuscripts, may be screened using appropriate similarity-detection tools at initial submission, during revision, or before publication where considered necessary.

The journal uses a 20% similarity score as an initial editorial screening reference. A similarity score above this reference level does not, by itself, constitute evidence of plagiarism. The editor will assess the nature, sources, location, context, and extent of the identified similarities before making an editorial decision.

Similarity may arise from legitimate sources, including references, standard methodological terminology, commonly used academic expressions, properly quoted and appropriately cited material, or other unavoidable textual similarities. Such similarities will be considered in the editorial assessment.

Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling

The journal also considers potential self-plagiarism and inappropriate text recycling. Authors must appropriately cite and disclose substantial overlap between the submitted manuscript and their previously published or submitted work. Reuse of previously published text, data, ideas, figures, or other research materials must be appropriately acknowledged and must comply with applicable copyright and publication-ethics requirements.

Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Similarity screening may also identify potential duplicate, redundant, or overlapping publication. Where substantial overlap with previously published or simultaneously submitted work is identified, the editor may request clarification from the authors and take appropriate action in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies and procedures.

Editorial Assessment

Where substantial or inappropriate similarity is identified, the editor may:

  • request clarification from the authors;

  • require appropriate citation, attribution, or correction;

  • return the manuscript for revision;

  • require substantial revision where appropriate;

  • reject the manuscript where the similarities indicate plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct; or

  • take other appropriate action in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policies and procedures.

The similarity score is used as a supporting indicator and does not, by itself, determine whether plagiarism or academic misconduct has occurred. Authors remain responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts are original, properly cited, and compliant with applicable standards of research and publication ethics.