Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy

"The Shield - Research Journal of Physical Education & Sports Science" is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity in advancing knowledge in physical education and sports sciences. This policy aligns with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan’s guidelines and the guidelines and flowcharts set forth by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

  1. Originality Checks and Acceptable Threshold
  • Screening Tool: All submissions undergo rigorous originality checks using Turnitin.
  • Maximum Threshold: The maximum acceptable similarity index (excluding bibliography and common terms) is 18%.
  • Action: Submissions exceeding this 18% threshold will be immediately returned to the author for revision and proper attribution or outright rejected.
  1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using another person's original work (ideas, processes, results, words) without explicit acknowledgment. In the context of sports sciences, this includes, but is not limited to:

  • Verbatim/Near-Verbatim Copying: Replicating text, data (e.g., athlete performance metrics), or visuals (e.g., training diagrams) from another source without using quotation marks and proper attribution.
  • Improper Paraphrasing: Rephrasing another author’s ideas or theories (e.g., sports psychology theories) without clearly crediting the original source.
  • Uncredited Use of Non-Text Material: Using images (e.g., biomechanical models), tables (e.g., sprint time comparisons), figures, or software/algorithms (e.g., motion analysis algorithms) without permission or proper citation.
  • Self-Plagiarism (Redundancy): Reusing significant portions of one’s own prior work (e.g., duplicating methodology from a previous study on swimmer physiology) without clear disclosure and citation.
  1. Detection, Reporting, and Investigation
  2. Reporting Process

Allegations of plagiarism (e.g., copied data in a coaching strategy study) must be submitted via email to the Editorial Office at [email protected].

  • The allegation must include specific documented evidence (e.g., side-by-side comparisons of texts, datasets, or figures) and the source of the alleged plagiarism.
  • The journal follows COPE’s flowcharts for plagiarism investigations to ensure a fair and thorough process.
  1. Consequences (Tiered Penalties)

The severity of the consequences depends on the nature and extent of the offense:

Offense Type

Similarity Index

Action Taken

Minor Offenses (Improper Citation, Poor Paraphrasing)

10–18%

Mandatory revision and proper attribution required before further consideration.

Major Offenses (Verbatim Copying, Data Replication)

>18%

Rejection of the manuscript. Severe cases may result in retraction (if published) and notification to the author’s institution (e.g., university sports department) following HEC and COPE guidelines.

Self-Plagiarism

Undisclosed Reuse

Mandatory disclosure of prior work. Repeated offenses may lead to a temporary publication ban.

False Accusations

Unsubstantiated Claim

May result in sanctions against the complainant.
  1. Ethical Writing Practices

To avoid plagiarism, authors must adhere to the following:

  • Citation Standard: Use the APA 7th Edition style to cite all sources accurately, including peer-reviewed studies, grey literature, and datasets.
  • Permissions: Obtain formal written consent for the reuse of any copyrighted visuals (e.g., training infographics, athlete photographs) or large sections of text.
  • Self-Citation: When reusing elements from the author's prior work (e.g., a methodology section), the previous publication must be cited explicitly.

Appeals Process

Authors may contest a decision related to plagiarism by submitting a detailed rebuttal to the Editorial Office at [email protected] within 30 days of notification. The appeal will be reviewed by an independent ethics panel, including experts in the field of sports sciences.