The problem of plagiarism in the process of establishing academic integrity culture at Georgian higher educational institutions [Scholarly Article - Qulity in Higher Education, 2023]

Title:

The problem of plagiarism in the process of establishing academic integrity culture at Georgian higher educational institutions

 

Author:

Tamar Chokoraia

 

Published:

Quality in Higher Education, Volume 29, Issue 1, 30 January 2023

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13538322.2022.2100619

 

Abstract:

The Georgian educational system was not familiar with the concept of plagiarism during the Soviet era. The purpose of the article is to study whether the mechanisms for plagiarism prevention in Georgian higher education institutions have been improved as a result of the application of new authorisation standards and international practices; it explores efforts made at the university level. The research has shown that universities have increased awareness of plagiarism, the Turnitin program was executed, syllabi were modified with the support of foreign partners and additional services supporting academic writing skills were introduced. The article discusses the pros and cons of the Turnitin program, as well as its challenges and limitations: it tackles severe cases of plagiarism but it is difficult to identify a more disguised form of plagiarism. The work reviews the new challenges and provides ways to address them in the form of recommendations.

 

RWANDA, AFRICA - Huge gap between students knowing, versus avoiding, plagiarism [University World News, 28 April 2022]

Title:

Huge gap between students knowing, versus avoiding, plagiarism 

 

Author:

Wagdy Sawahel  

 

Published:

University World News, 28 April 2022

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20220427142754147

 

From the article:

Comprehensive training for scientific and academic writing should be instituted in higher education institutions in Rwanda and across Africa to promote the importance of academic integrity in scholarly work, improve students’ ability to apply skills to avoid plagiarism, and increase opportunities for publication.  

 

This emerged from a 13 April study titled ‘Assessing Knowledge of and Attitudes Towards Plagiarism and Ability to Recognise Plagiaristic Writing Among University Students in Rwanda’, published in the Journal of Higher Education.

 

Academic integrity of university students during emergency remote online assessment: An exploration of student voices [Scholarly Article - Transformation in Higher Education, 2021]

Title:

Academic integrity of university students during emergency remote online assessment: An exploration of student voices 

 

Authors:

Anne H. Verhoef & Yolandi M. Coetser

 

Published:

Transformation in Higher Education, Volume 6, 27 September 2021

https://thejournal.org.za/index.php/thejournal/article/view/132

 

Abstract:

Background: This article examines the phenomenon of academic integrity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with particular reference to emergency online assessments in 2020.  

 

Aim: It explores academic dishonesty, cheating and plagiarism of university students during emergency remote online assessment, from the perspective of South African students.  

 

Setting and Methodology: The authors explore the approaches of different universities worldwide, as well as the extant literature on the topic. An examination of the current literature related explicitly to the COVID-19 online assessments reveals a dearth of engagement by researchers in the South African context. In order to address this lacuna, the authors rely on data generated from an institutional forum on academic dishonesty at a University in South Africa. It focuses specifically on the voices of students presented during the forum, which explained both why students are dishonest and ways to curb dishonesty.  

 

Results and Conclusion: The data generated show whilst some students were dishonest due to pandemic-related issues (like lack of monitoring), there are also other reasons, such as lack of time management, feeling overwhelmed and stressed and struggling with technology that contributes to student dishonesty. Students suggest that assessments be approached differently online to curb academic dishonesty. The paper concludes by providing some fundamental changes needed to address academic dishonesty.

 

Universities and plagiarism: who copied who? [Higher Education Policy Institute, October 2021]

Title:

Universities and plagiarism: who copied who?

 

Author:

Daniel Sokol

 

Published:

Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), 26 October 2021

https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2021/10/26/universities-and-plagiarism-who-copied-who/

 

From the blog article:

This blog was kindly contributed by Daniel Sokol is a barrister and founder of Alpha Academic Appeals, where he leads a team of 15 barristers who act for students accused of misconduct. He was formerly a university lecturer.

The frequency of plagiarism identified by text-matching software in scientific articles: a systematic review and meta-analysis [Scholarly Article - Scientometrics, 2021]

Title:

The frequency of plagiarism identified by text-matching software in scientific articles: a systematic review and meta-analysis

 

Author:

Vanja Pupovac 

Published:

Scientometrics, 24 September 2021

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11192-021-04140-5

Abstract:

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the frequency of plagiarism in scientific papers estimated from publications that use text-matching software to identify plagiarism. For this purpose, a literature search of 39 bibliographic databases has been conducted and a total of 10,005 articles have been identified. Ten articles met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis and they checked for plagiarism in 6459 already published articles or manuscripts submitted to journals or conferences. All articles assessed plagiarism in a two-step process, first identifying textual similarity based on text-matching software and second, additionally inspecting detected similarity in the human verification process. The result revealed that 18% (95% CI: 12–25%) of articles have instances of plagiarism. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explain the large variance in the results. Following factors were tested: the number of plagiarism criteria implemented during the human verification process, sample size, the country where the study was conducted, the scientific discipline of analyzed papers, and publication status of analyzed papers. Plagiarism rates were higher across studies with a smaller sample size (N < 500) or a larger number of plagiarism criteria used to identify plagiarism (4 or 5 criteria). In conclusion, text-matching software is effective in providing evidence for plagiarism; however, this includes only textually based cases of plagiarism, and the reliability of software results depends on additional human verification.

Plagiarism: A Canadian Higher Education Case Study of Policy and Practice Gaps [Scholarly Article - AJER, December 2020]

Title:

Plagiarism: A Canadian Higher Education Case Study of Policy and Practice Gaps

 

Authors:

Sarah Elaine Eaton (University of Calgary), Cristina Fernández Conde (University of Calgary), Stefan Rothschuh, Melanie Guglielmin & Benedict Kojo Otoo

 

Published:

Alberta Journal of Educational Research (AJER), Volume 66, Number 6, 15 December 2020

https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/ajer/article/view/69204

Abstract:

This mixed methods case study investigated faculty perspectives and practice around plagiarism in a Western Canadian faculty of education. Data sources included interviews, focus groups, and a survey. Findings showed that participants (N = 36) were disinclined to follow established procedures. Instead, they tended to deal with plagiarism in informal ways without reporting cases to administration, which resulted in a disconnect between policy and practice. The emotional impact of reporting plagiarism included frustration with the time required to document a case, and fear that reporting could have a negative effect on one’s employment. Recommendations include approaches that bridge the gap between policy and practice.

Futurism, 21 April 2020 - This Grad Student Used a Neural Network to Write His Papers

Title:
This Grad Student Used a Neural Network to Write His Papers

Author:
Dan Robitzski

Published:
Futurism, 21 April 2020

From the article:
"Back when artificial intelligence development company OpenAI created the text-writing algorithm GPT-2, it initially said it was too dangerous to release into the world."

To read this article:
https://futurism.com/grad-student-neural-network-write-papers

MSUM Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership dissertation (2020) - Uncertainty in Academia: A Mixed Methods Study Identifying How Value Statements on Plagiarism Correlate with Plagiarism Reporting Behaviors of Undergraduate Faculty in a Distance Education Program

Title of dissertation:
Uncertainty in Academia: A Mixed Methods Study Identifying How Value Statements on Plagiarism Correlate with Plagiarism Reporting Behaviors of Undergraduate Faculty in a Distance Education Program

Author:
Laurie Kay Larson

Degree name:
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

University:
Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM)

Date of award:
15 May 2020

From the abstract:
"Plagiarism is a growing concern for colleges and universities around the globe. Research has shown that an overwhelming majority of college students today have admitted to cheating at some point during their academic career; however, some studies have demonstrated that faculty reporting rates are not mirroring this trend. While many studies detail faculty perceptions on plagiarism, this study focused specifically on faculty plagiarism reporting behaviors at a predominantly online institution. Additionally, this study identified five predetermined value statement factors derived from the available literature and further explored how those factors influenced and/or impeded faculty decisions to report a plagiarism violation. For this study, a pragmatic mixed methods approach was chosen to better define both the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ within this project."

To download dissertation, go to:
https://red.mnstate.edu/thesis/299/

Short Article: Russian journals retract more than 800 papers after 'bombshell' investigation

Title:
Russian journals retract more than 800 papers after 'bombshell' investigation

Author:
Dalmeet Singh Chawla

Published:
Science, 8 January 2020

From the article:
"Academic journals in Russia are retracting more than 800 papers following a probe into unethical publication practices by a commission appointed by the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). The moves come in the wake of several other queries suggesting the vast Russian scientific literature is riddled by plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and so-called gift authorship, in which academics become co-author witout having contributed any work."

To read this article:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/01/russian-journals-retract-more-800-papers-after-bombshell-investigation