How do oncology journals approach plagiarism? A website review

Area of Science:

• Scientific Publishing
• Medical Journals
• Research Integrity

Background:

• Plagiarism detection methods and responses vary among scientific journals.
• Oncology journals' specific practices for handling suspected plagiarism are not well-defined.
• Understanding these policies is crucial for maintaining publication ethics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the plagiarism detection and response policies of oncology journals.
• To analyze the methods and timing of plagiarism checks in oncology publications.
• To identify common practices and variations in journal policies regarding plagiarism.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive review of oncology journals listed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE).
• Data collection from journal and publisher websites regarding plagiarism policies.
• Analysis of publicly available information on plagiarism detection and response procedures.

Main Results:

• Over 92% of oncology journals have a plagiarism policy.
• Text similarity software is mentioned by over 92% of these journals, primarily during initial manuscript review.
• Many journals (56%) report adhering to guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Conclusions:

• Oncology journals largely employ similar plagiarism detection and response strategies.
• Variations exist in the scope, location, and timing of plagiarism checks.
• Journal policies are frequently guided by recommendations from professional organizations like COPE.