Plagiarism and AI Policy

Plagiarism Policy

The Journal of Clinical and Community Health (JCCH) upholds strict policies against plagiarism and academic misconduct. To maintain integrity and originality in scientific publishing, the following principles are applied:

  1. Screening Process

    • All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using reliable plagiarism detection software prior to the peer review process.

    • Manuscripts with high similarity scores, detected plagiarism, or duplicate publication will be rejected automatically.

  2. Types of Plagiarism

    • Direct plagiarism: copying another author’s work word-for-word without proper citation.

    • Mosaic plagiarism: borrowing phrases, structures, or ideas without acknowledgment.

    • Self-plagiarism: reusing significant portions of one’s previously published work without citation or justification.

  3. Consequences

    • Manuscripts found with plagiarism will be rejected immediately.

    • If plagiarism is detected after publication, the article will be retracted, and a retraction notice will be issued.

    • Serious cases may be reported to the authors’ institutions or funding bodies.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

The Journal of Clinical and Community Health (JCCH) acknowledges the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in research and academic writing. However, to ensure transparency, accountability, and scientific integrity, the following policy applies:

  1. Permitted Use

    • AI tools (e.g., for language editing, grammar correction, data analysis, or generating ideas) may be used to assist in the research and writing process.

    • The use of AI must always be under direct human supervision, and all outputs must be critically reviewed and edited by the authors.

  2. Prohibited Use

    • AI cannot be listed as an author or co-author, as it cannot take responsibility for the content.

    • Manuscripts generated primarily by AI without substantial human input and critical revision will be rejected.

  3. Disclosure Requirement

    • Authors must clearly disclose in the manuscript if AI tools were used, specifying the tool and its purpose (e.g., grammar editing, statistical analysis support, image processing).

    • Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the content.

  4. Editorial Oversight

    • Manuscripts suspected of relying excessively on AI-generated content without adequate human oversight will not be processed.

    • JCCH editors and reviewers reserve the right to request clarifications from authors regarding the extent of AI use.

 

Retraction Policy

The Journal of Clinical and Community Health (JCCH) is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. Retraction of published articles is considered a serious action and will only be carried out under specific circumstances, in line with guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Grounds for Retraction

An article may be retracted if:

  • Clear evidence shows that the findings are unreliable due to misconduct (e.g., data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism) or honest error (e.g., miscalculation, experimental error).

  • The article has been published elsewhere previously (duplicate publication) without proper citation or permission.

  • The research was conducted or published without adhering to ethical standards (e.g., lack of informed consent, animal welfare violations).

  • Significant conflicts of interest are discovered after publication that undermine the integrity of the findings.

Retraction Process

  • Retraction requests may come from authors, editors, or third parties with credible evidence.

  • The editorial board will conduct an investigation, which may involve consultation with reviewers, institutions, or relevant authorities.

  • If retraction is warranted, a retraction notice will be published, clearly stating the reasons for retraction.

  • The original article will remain accessible online but will be watermarked as “Retracted” to maintain the scholarly record.

Corrections and Expressions of Concern

  • Minor errors that do not affect the overall validity of the article may be addressed through a correction noticerather than a retraction.

  • If an ongoing investigation is inconclusive, the journal may publish an expression of concern until the matter is resolved.

Author Notification

  • Authors will be informed of any concerns raised and given the opportunity to respond before a retraction decision is finalized.