Gema Lingkungan Kesehatan is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and originality in the publication of scientific research. As part of our commitment to ethical publishing practices, we conduct thorough plagiarism checks on all submitted manuscripts. This statement outlines our policies and procedures for plagiarism detection and the acceptable similarity index for manuscripts.

Plagiarism Policy

1. Definition of Plagiarism: Plagiarism involves the use of another person's ideas, words, data, or other original material without proper acknowledgment. This includes, but is not limited to, direct copying, paraphrasing without citation, and the uncredited use of another author's work.
2. Similarity Index Threshold: Gema Lingkungan Kesehatan employs plagiarism detection software to screen all submitted manuscripts for potential plagiarism. The acceptable similarity index for submitted manuscripts is a maximum of 20%. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold may be subject to further review or rejection.

Plagiarism Detection Process

1. Initial Screening: Upon submission, each manuscript is subjected to a plagiarism check using industry-standard plagiarism detection tools. This initial screening helps identify any significant overlaps with existing published works.
2. Evaluation of Similarity Index:

• Below 20%: Manuscripts with a similarity index below 20% proceed to the peer review process, provided that no significant instances of uncredited content are identified.
• Above 20%: Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding 20% are flagged for further evaluation. The editorial team reviews the highlighted sections to determine the nature and extent of the overlap.

1. Detailed Assessment: If the similarity index is above the acceptable threshold, the editorial team conducts a detailed assessment to differentiate between acceptable overlaps (such as common phrases, references, or properly cited quotations) and potential plagiarism.

Actions Based on Similarity Index

1. Minor Overlaps: If minor overlaps are identified and they are properly cited, the manuscript may be returned to the authors with a request to improve citation practices and ensure all sources are appropriately acknowledged.
2. Significant Overlaps: For manuscripts with significant uncredited overlaps, the authors are required to revise the manuscript to address the issues. This may involve rewriting sections, adding proper citations, or reducing the similarity index below the acceptable threshold.
3. Severe Cases: In cases where substantial plagiarism is detected, the manuscript may be rejected outright. Authors are informed of the reasons for rejection and advised on how to avoid plagiarism in future submissions.

Author Responsibilities

1. Original Work: Authors must ensure that their submissions are original and that any material borrowed from other sources is properly cited.
2. Proper Citation: Authors are responsible for providing accurate and complete references for all quoted, paraphrased, or otherwise used material.
3. Plagiarism Checks: Authors are encouraged to use plagiarism detection tools to check their manuscripts before submission to ensure compliance with the journal's policies.

Commitment to Academic Integrity

Gema Lingkungan Kesehatan is dedicated to fostering a culture of academic integrity and ethical research practices. By enforcing a strict plagiarism policy and conducting thorough plagiarism checks, we aim to maintain the trust of our readers, authors, and the broader academic community.