1. Introduction  
The Emmanuel Alayande University of Education Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies (EAUE-JMS) upholds the highest standards of academic integrity. Plagiarism, in any form, is a serious violation of ethical research and publication practices. This policy outlines the journal's stance on plagiarism and the procedures to prevent, detect, and address it.  

2. Definition of Plagiarism  
Plagiarism involves presenting another person's work, ideas, or data as one's own without proper acknowledgment. This includes but is not limited to:  
- Verbatim copying of text without citation.  
- Paraphrasing someone else’s work without attribution.  
- Reusing one’s previously published work without proper citation (self-plagiarism).  
- Using data, images, or other materials without appropriate credit.  

3. Policy Scope 
This policy applies to all submissions, including original research articles, review papers, and other contributions to EAUE-JMS.  

4. Plagiarism Detection  

4.1 Screening Process  
- All manuscripts submitted to EAUE-JMS are screened using plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin, iThenticate) before peer review.  
- The journal considers a similarity index of 20% or less as acceptable, excluding references and properly quoted materials.  

4.2 Reviewer and Editor Monitoring 
- Reviewers and editors are encouraged to report any suspected plagiarism encountered during the peer review process.  

5. Consequences of Plagiarism 

5.1 Minor Plagiarism (e.g., improper citation or minor overlap)  
- Authors are notified and asked to revise and resubmit the manuscript with proper citations.  

5.2 Major Plagiarism (e.g., extensive copying or deliberate misrepresentation of work)  
- The manuscript is rejected immediately.  
- A formal notice is sent to the author(s), and their affiliated institution(s) may be informed.  
- Authors may be blacklisted from submitting to the journal in the future.  

6. Author Responsibilities  
- Authors must ensure their work is original and properly cite all sources.  
- Authors must declare that the manuscript has not been previously published and is not under consideration elsewhere.  
- Authors are required to disclose if they have reused any of their previously published material and provide proper citations.  

7. Editor and Reviewer Responsibilities 
- Editors and reviewers must act impartially and alert the journal to any suspected plagiarism.  
- Editors reserve the right to take corrective actions as outlined in this policy.  

8. Appeals Process  
Authors who believe their manuscript was wrongly accused of plagiarism may submit a written appeal to the editorial board. The appeal will be reviewed, and a decision will be communicated within a reasonable timeframe.  

9. Preventive Measures  
- The journal provides guidelines on citation and referencing practices.  
- Authors are encouraged to use plagiarism detection tools to self-check their work before submission.  

10. Ethical Compliance  
This policy aligns with the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure integrity and fairness in scholarly publishing.  

11. Contact Information  
For queries or concerns about the plagiarism policy, please contact:  

Editorial Office  
Emmanuel Alayande University of Education Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies  
    [eauedjms@eauedoyo.edu.ng]  
    [+2348024323231]  

By adhering to this policy, EAUE-JMS ensures that all published content meets the highest standards of originality and academic integrity.