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Citation Policy

The International Journal for Public Policy, Law and Development (IJPLD) upholds rigorous standards for citation practices to ensure the academic integrity, transparency of scholarly communication and for the purpose to promote to raise the standard of research by enhancing and unifying methodology. Accurate and comprehensive citation is essential for proper attribution of sources, allowing the academic community to trace the origins of ideas and data. This policy outlines the expectations for authors regarding citation practices and addresses concerns related to self-citation, citation stacking, the issues of plagiarism and copyright.

Accurate and Comprehensive Citations:

  • Expectations: Authors must provide full and accurate citations for all references used in their manuscripts. This includes complete bibliographic, footnotes, references or endnotes information for each cited source, such as authorship, title, publication date, journal name, volume, issue, page numbers, and DOI (if available).

  • Purpose:Comprehensive citations ensure that readers can verify sources, follow up on original research, and assess the context and relevance of cited works. Proper attribution supports academic integrity and allows for a clear understanding of the research's foundation and influence.

Avoidance of Excessive Self-Citation:

  • Guidelines:Authors should avoid excessive self-citation, which refers to the disproportionate citing of their own previous work. While it is appropriate to reference relevant prior research, over-reliance on self-citations can create a skewed view of the research landscape and reduce the manuscript’s credibility.

  • Balance:The inclusion of self-citations should be balanced and justified, focusing on the relevance of the cited work to the current research. Authors should aim to provide a broad perspective by citing a diverse range of sources, including those from other researchers in the field.

Prevention of Citation Stacking:

  • Definition: Citation stacking involves citing many sources from a single author or journal to artificially inflate citation metrics or create a misleading impression of research influence.

  • Discouragement: IJPLD discourages citation stacking as it undermines the authenticity of scholarly work and can distort the true impact of research. Citations should be based on the merit and relevance of the sources, not on the strategic aim of boosting citation counts.

Citation Format and Style:

  • Consistency: Authors must adhere to the citation style prescribed by IJPLD, ensuring uniformity throughout their manuscript. The journal provides specific formatting guidelines for citations and references, which must be followed to maintain consistency and readability.

  • Verification: Authors should verify the accuracy of all citations and ensure that all referenced works are correctly cited in the bibliography. Inaccurate or incomplete citations can detract from the manuscript’s credibility and scholarly value.

Ethical Considerations:

  • Academic Integrity: The citation policy is designed to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical research practices. Authors are expected to engage in honest and transparent citation practices, contributing to a trustworthy and credible body of scientific literature.

  • Accountability & transparency: Authors are responsible for ensuring that all cited works are relevant, accurately represented, and properly attributed. Any discrepancies or issues with citations should be addressed promptly to maintain the integrity of the publication.

IJPLD's Citation Policy emphasizes the importance of accurate, comprehensive, and ethical citation practices in scholarly work. By adhering to these guidelines, authors contribute to the integrity and credibility of academic research, support the traceability of ideas and data, and promote a balanced and transparent scholarly discourse.