PEER REVIEW GUIDLINES

Peer Review Policy – JPPGPS: Journal of Public Policy, Government and Political Studies

1. Introduction

JPPGPS: Journal of Public Policy, Government and Political Studies is committed to maintaining academic integrity and publishing high-quality scholarly works. To ensure the credibility, relevance, and rigor of each publication, the journal implements a comprehensive and structured peer review process for all submitted manuscripts.

2. Double-Blind Peer Review

To promote fairness and eliminate potential bias, JPPGPS adopts a double-blind peer review system. In this model, both the authors’ and reviewers’ identities are kept confidential throughout the evaluation process. Any identifying information is removed from the manuscript before it is sent for review, and reviewers’ identities are not disclosed to the authors when feedback is provided.

This approach enhances objectivity, encourages honest critique, and reduces potential conflicts of interest between authors and reviewers.

3. Peer Review Stages

The peer review process at JPPGPS is divided into three main stages:
(1) Initial Editorial Screening,
(2) External Peer Review, and
(3) Final Editorial Decision.

Stage I: Initial Editorial Screening

Upon submission, each manuscript undergoes a preliminary review by the editorial office to determine its eligibility for peer review. The editorial team assesses the following aspects:

  • Plagiarism Screening:
    All submissions are checked using Turnitin to detect text similarity. JPPGPS enforces a strict similarity threshold of 20%. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold are either returned to the authors for revision or rejected outright. A similarity report is provided to support the decision.

  • Relevance to Journal Scope:
    The editorial team evaluates whether the manuscript aligns with the journal’s focus on public policy, governance, and political studies. If the manuscript falls outside the scope, authors may be invited to transfer their submission to a more appropriate journal. However, such transfer does not guarantee acceptance, and the manuscript must undergo a new peer review process.

  • Recent and Relevant Citations:
    Authors are encouraged to cite current and relevant literature, particularly publications from the past five years, to ensure that the research engages with recent academic discourse.

  • Language and Structure:
    The journal accepts manuscripts in English or Indonesian. Submissions are reviewed for clarity, coherence, grammar, and adherence to the journal’s formatting guidelines. Minor grammatical issues may be corrected by the editorial office, but manuscripts with serious language deficiencies will be returned to authors for improvement.

Manuscripts that do not pass this initial screening will be returned to the authors with suggestions for revision. This stage is typically completed within seven working days.

Stage II: External Peer Review

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are forwarded to at least two independent reviewers with expertise in the manuscript’s subject area. Reviewers are selected from the journal’s editorial board or external academic networks.

Each reviewer is asked to assess the manuscript based on:

  • Originality and innovation

  • Relevance and contribution to the field

  • Methodological soundness

  • Clarity of writing and organization

  • Significance of findings in the context of public policy and political studies

Based on their evaluation, reviewers will recommend one of the following decisions:

  1. Accept with minor revisions

  2. Accept with moderate revisions

  3. Requires major revisions

  4. Reject, with detailed justification

If the two reviewers provide conflicting or significantly divergent feedback, the manuscript will be assigned to a third reviewer for additional input. All reviewer comments are anonymized and shared with the author(s). The duration of this stage varies based on reviewer availability but is generally completed within 1 to 4 weeks.

Stage III: Final Editorial Decision

Once a revised manuscript is submitted, the editor conducts a comprehensive review of the original submission, the revised version, and all reviewer comments. The editor then makes one of the following decisions:

  1. Accept as submitted

  2. Accept with minor revisions

  3. Requires major revisions

  4. Resubmit for additional peer review

  5. Reject

If further revisions are necessary, the editor will return the manuscript to the author(s) with specific instructions. In some cases, the revised manuscript may be re-evaluated by one of the original reviewers before final acceptance.

Accepted manuscripts will be scheduled for publication in the upcoming issue of JPPGPS.