Plagiarism Policy

Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pengajaran Guru Sekolah Dasar (JPPGuseda) is firmly committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. We enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy against all forms of plagiarism and self-plagiarism. To ensure compliance with international standards of academic integrity, all submitted manuscripts are rigorously screened using industry-standard similarity detection software (Turnitin or iThenticate) before being cleared for peer review.

1. Definition of Plagiarism and Citation Ethics

Plagiarism constitutes a serious violation of academic ethics, regardless of whether it is committed intentionally or unintentionally. It is defined as the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, data, or words without giving appropriate credit.

To uphold academic integrity, authors must adhere to the following citation principles:

  • Borrowing Ideas: When adopting an idea, theoretical framework, or methodological approach from another source—even if it is further developed, modified, or critiqued—proper credit must be given to the original author.

  • Verbatim Copying: When using the exact words from another source (generally defined as four or more consecutive words copied verbatim), authors must use quotation marks alongside the appropriate APA 7th edition citation format. A citation alone without quotation marks for copied text is insufficient and ethically unacceptable.

  • Factual Data: Specific information such as dates, statistical figures, and geographical data must be cited, unless the information qualifies as widely accepted "common knowledge" within the discipline.

2. Initial Screening: Similarity Index Thresholds

During the initial desk review, the editorial team evaluates the manuscript's similarity report. JPPGuseda applies the following quantitative thresholds:

  • Similarity Index ≤ 20% (Acceptable): The manuscript falls within the acceptable limit and may proceed to the peer-review stage. However, the editorial team may still request minor revisions if they spot improper paraphrasing or missing citations in specific paragraphs.

  • Similarity Index 21% – 39% (Revision Required): The manuscript contains a concerning level of textual overlap. It will be returned to the authors prior to peer review. Authors must thoroughly re-paraphrase the highlighted sections, ensure all citations are accurate, and resubmit the revised manuscript.

  • Similarity Index ≥ 40% (Outright Rejection): Due to excessive overlap with previously published works, the manuscript will be rejected outright. Authors will not be given an option to resubmit the same manuscript.

3. Qualitative Assessment: Plagiarism Severity and Editorial Sanctions

Beyond the automated similarity index, the editorial board evaluates the qualitative nature of any detected overlap. Depending on the severity of the plagiarism, JPPGuseda will impose the following sanctions:

  • Minor Plagiarism: Definition: Occurs when short sections of text are copied or poorly paraphrased without proper citation, but the manuscript does not steal significant data, central arguments, or original ideas from the source. Editorial Action: A formal warning is issued. The manuscript is returned to the authors with a mandatory request to revise the text and provide correct attributions.

  • Intermediate Plagiarism: Definition: Involves the uncredited use of substantial portions of another paper's text or secondary arguments. Editorial Action: The manuscript is immediately rejected. Furthermore, the corresponding author and co-authors will be prohibited from submitting any new manuscripts to JPPGuseda for a period of one (1) year.

  • Severe Plagiarism: Definition: The unauthorized reproduction of significant original ideas, core data, major findings, or full structural sections from another publication, representing deliberate academic theft. Editorial Action: The manuscript is immediately rejected. If the manuscript was already published, it will be formally retracted. All involved authors will face a five (5) year ban on future submissions to JPPGuseda, and their affiliated institutions may be formally notified.

4. Editorial Authority

The Editorial Board of JPPGuseda reserves the ultimate right to withdraw acceptance or retract a published article if it is later discovered to violate these anti-plagiarism standards. Authors requiring clarification on citation practices or referencing boundaries are strongly encouraged to contact the editorial office prior to submission.