Novel
Forensic Research (NOFOR) is committed to maintaining scientific integrity and
preventing plagiarism and other forms of research and publication misconduct.
All
submitted manuscripts are screened using iThenticate similarity detection
software during the editorial evaluation, peer review, and/or production
process.
Manuscripts
with an overall similarity index exceeding 25%, or a similarity rate of 5%
or higher from a single source, are returned to the authors with the
similarity report for revision or clarification before further evaluation.
Similarity
reports are evaluated by the Editorial Office, taking into consideration
properly cited quotations, references, methodological terminology, and other
legitimate textual similarities. A similarity score alone does not constitute
definitive evidence of plagiarism.
Authors must
appropriately cite all previously published material, including their own work,
and avoid the following forms of research and publication misconduct:
Citation
Manipulation: Artificially
increasing citations to authors, journals, or publications through excessive
self-citation, coercive citation practices, honorary citations, or citation
stacking.
Self-Plagiarism
(Text Recycling): Reusing
substantial portions of previously published work without appropriate citation
or disclosure.
Salami
Slicing:
Inappropriately dividing findings from the same research dataset into multiple
publications without sufficient scientific justification or transparent
disclosure.
Data
Fabrication: Inventing
research data, observations, or results that were not actually obtained.
Data
Falsification and Manipulation: Altering, omitting, or misrepresenting research data,
images, forensic evidence, or analytical results in a manner that compromises
scientific accuracy.
Duplicate
Publication: Publishing
or submitting substantially overlapping research in more than one journal
without appropriate disclosure or justification.
Suspected
plagiarism or ethical misconduct will be investigated in accordance with the COPE
Core Practices and relevant COPE guidelines and flowcharts.
Authors may
be asked to provide explanations, original data, or supporting documentation.
Depending on the findings, the journal may request revisions, suspend
evaluation, reject the manuscript, issue a correction or retraction, or notify
relevant institutions when appropriate.
All
allegations are handled fairly, impartially, and confidentially, in accordance
with the journal's Publication Ethics Policy.