The peer-reviewed scholarly journal «Obraz» publishes original articles, reviews, and research communications that have not been previously submitted to or published in any other journal and that present authentic results of experimental or theoretical research. The Editorial Board strictly adheres to the principles of publication ethics and academic integrity as recommended by COPE, WAME, ICMJE, etc., and aims to ensure the highest standards of transparency, honesty, and reliability of information and data in published articles.

Plagiarism. Plagiarism is the appropriation of ideas, data, or text without permission from the authors and without proper reference to the original source. Plagiarism in scientific publications is considered a serious violation of publication ethics and professional conduct. To detect textual borrowings in submitted manuscripts, the Editorial Board uses the StrikePlagiarism system and checks manuscripts at the stage of initial evaluation and, if necessary, after revision by the author.

Plagiarism Screening Policy. Manuscripts in which plagiarism is detected are evaluated based on the extent of plagiarism present:

• if the level of plagiarism is less than 15%, the manuscript is immediately returned to the authors for revision;
• if the level exceeds 15%, the manuscript is rejected without editorial review.

The percentage of plagiarism is calculated using specialized software and is additionally analyzed and assessed by the Editorial Board.

Plagiarism Before Publication. The Editorial Board considers each case of plagiarism individually. If plagiarism or textual borrowing is detected by editors or reviewers at any stage prior to publication, the author(s) will be asked to clarify whether the detected material is indeed unauthorized borrowing or, conversely, belongs to the author but has been used by others and previously published. In such cases, the author may be asked to rewrite the text or provide appropriate references to the original source. If textual borrowings constitute less than 15%, authors are advised to revise the overlaps and resubmit the manuscript.

Plagiarism After Publication. If plagiarism is identified after publication, the Editorial Board will evaluate the case in accordance with COPE recommendations. Pages containing plagiarized material will be marked in the PDF file. Depending on the extent of plagiarism, the article will be retracted. The author will be disqualified from future submissions, and the affiliated institution will be notified of the retraction and its reasons.

Recommendations for Authors to Avoid Plagiarism:

• Use quotation marks for words and phrases taken from a source.
• Do not alter quotations within a sentence.
• Use ellipses (…) to indicate omitted parts of a quotation.
• Use brackets to insert your own words into a quotation.
• Limit the use of direct quotations; prefer paraphrasing and analysis.
• Paraphrase or synthesize information from multiple sources using appropriate wording.

Self-Plagiarism. The Editorial Board does not support excessive reuse of an author’s previously published texts, although reasonable and properly cited reuse is acceptable for clarification or reference to earlier research.

Policy on Preventing Unethical Practices. The Editorial Board of “Obraz. Obraz” critically examines any allegations of violations of academic integrity and unethical practices at all stages of manuscript handling, peer review, and publication. The Editorial Board ensures that the publication process complies with international standards and requirements.

Unethical practices include, but are not limited to:

• Violation of intellectual property rights;
• Data fabrication (use of invented observations or data);
• Data or results falsification (including image manipulation);
• Ignoring significant contradictory data from other studies;
• Ethical disputes;
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest;
• Duplicate publication.

Procedure for Handling Complaints. Complaints regarding scientific misconduct are handled in accordance with COPE recommendations. If an author, reviewer, or reader becomes aware of possible plagiarism, fraud, or other ethical violations, they are encouraged to contact the Editorial Board and submit a written complaint.

Receipt of Complaint. The Editorial Board accepts complaints regarding suspected misconduct in submitted or published articles. Complaints should be sent via email to: obraz@journ.sumdu.edu.ua.

Detailed Complaint. The complaint must clearly describe the nature of the violation and provide specific details. In cases of plagiarism, the borrowed text and references to both the original and the suspected articles must be clearly indicated.

Investigation. The Editorial Board initiates an investigation, including its own review and communication with the author(s) of the suspected article.

Author’s Explanation. The corresponding author will be asked to provide an explanation and relevant evidence.

Resolution. If misconduct is confirmed, the Editorial Board will take appropriate action:

• during peer review: minor issues may be corrected following reviewer recommendations;
• after publication:
• erratum – correction of minor technical errors;
• corrigendum – correction of significant errors affecting data or methodology;
• retraction – in cases of serious ethical violations or fundamental flaws.

No Response or Unsatisfactory Explanation. In the absence of a response or in case of an unsatisfactory explanation, the article may be rejected or retracted. External experts may be involved if necessary.

Notification of the Complainant. The complainant will be informed of the outcome.

Closure of the Complaint. The complaint is considered resolved once a final decision is made.

Retraction Policy. Retraction is applied when significant errors or ethical violations are discovered after publication that undermine the reliability of the research. Decisions are made objectively in accordance with COPE standards to maintain academic integrity and the integrity of the journal.

Reasons for retraction include:

• Ethical violations (fabrication, falsification, plagiarism);
• Significant errors affecting validity or reliability;
• Duplicate or redundant publication;
• Honest errors (unintentional mistakes due to oversight or negligence);
• Violations of research ethics or undisclosed conflicts of interest.

Retraction Procedure Includes:

• Submission of a justified written complaint;
• Thorough investigation of the case;
• Compliance with ethical and methodological standards;
• Transparent notification explaining the reasons for retraction;
• Clear marking of the article as “retracted,” indicating its status and reasons.