Plagiarism Policy

1. Introduction

The Research Consortium Archive (RCA) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical research practices. Plagiarism is a serious offense that undermines the credibility of research and scholarship. This policy outlines the RCA's expectations for authors submitting their work to the archive and the procedures followed in the event of suspected plagiarism.

2. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using another person's work or ideas without properly citing them as the source. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct copying of text, data, or images without quotation marks and proper citation.
  • Paraphrasing another person's work without giving them credit.
  • Claiming someone else's work as your own.
  • Self-plagiarism, which is reusing significant portions of your own previously published work without proper citation.

3. Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting work to the RCA are responsible for ensuring the originality of their work and for properly citing all sources used. This includes:

  • Citing all sources used in your work, regardless of format or medium.
  • Using quotation marks for exact text copied from other sources.
  • Paraphrasing in a way that is clearly different from the original source and citing the source.
  • Obtaining permission from the copyright holder for any copyrighted material used in your work.

4. Detection and Handling of Plagiarism

The RCA reserves the right to use plagiarism detection software on all submitted works. If plagiarism is suspected, the RCA will follow these procedures:

  • The author will be contacted and notified of the suspected plagiarism.
  • The author will be given an opportunity to provide a response and explanation.
  • The RCA will investigate the case further and make a determination based on the evidence.

5. Consequences of Plagiarism

If plagiarism is confirmed, the following consequences may apply:

  • The affected work may be removed from the RCA archive.
  • The author may be banned from submitting future work to the RCA.
  • The case may be reported to the author's academic institution or funding agency.

6. Appeals

Authors who disagree with a plagiarism determination may appeal the decision to the RCA Review Board. The Review Board will consider all relevant information and make a final decision.