Avoiding the plague of plagiarism: good practice in acknowledging others Adapted for the Centre for Health and Social Care Studies and Service development.

Avoiding the plague of plagiarism: good practice in

acknowledging othersAdapted for the Centre for

Health and Social Care Studies and Service

development from work produced in ScHARR

What is plagiarism?

• Plagiarism is “passing off others’ work as your own, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to your benefit. The work can include ideas, compositions, designs, images, computer code, and, of course, words”.

Why is it important?

• “Any attempt by a student to gain unfair advantage over another student in the completion of an assessment, or to assist someone else to gain an unfair advantage, is cheating. Cheating undermines the standards of the University’s awards and disadvantages those students who have attempted to complete assessments honestly and fairly. It is an offence against the values of the academic community of which students and staff are both part………“

Tackling Plagiarism

• Detection {Ongoing}– Looking out for

changes in style– “Googling” a

student’s suspect phrases

– Using Plagiarism Detection Software

• Prevention {Preferred}– Teaching everyone what

plagiarism is– Giving students opportunity

to complete a formative assignment

• Remedial {Time-consuming}– Disciplinary

procedures/possible expulsion

– Resubmission of work

So what is unacceptable and what is acceptable?

Some Bad and Good Examples

Original, from Frances Tourdefrance (2006)

There is evidence to suggest that politicians are far from reluctant to make political capital from the debate regarding the effectiveness of bicycle helmets. When, for example, then Prime Minister Tony Blair was seeking to boost his popularity in 2005 he allowed himself to be photographed, astride a mountain bike, wearing a bicycle helmet. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, an avowed apolitical organisation, placed the photograph of the Premier prominently within their published review of the effectiveness of bicycle helmets and other road safety measures. Even though the “jury is still out” on the Blair administration’s record on road safety, many people were likely to see photos of the Premier in the helmet and make a positive link between Blair and road accident prevention.

Acceptable or Unacceptable?

Attempt 1 – Acceptable or Unacceptable?

• Evidence suggests that politicians are far from reluctant to make political capital from the debate regarding the effectiveness of bicycle helmets. When, for example, then Prime Minister Tony Blair was seeking to boost his popularity in 2005 he allowed himself to be photographed, astride a mountain bike, wearing a bicycle helmet. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, an avowed apolitical organisation, placed the photograph of the Premier prominently within their published review of the effectiveness of bicycle helmets and other road safety measures. Even though the “jury is still out” on the Blair administration’s record on road safety, many people were likely to see photos of the Premier in the helmet and make a positive link between Blair and road accident prevention.

Unacceptable Practice

Plagiarism – simple cut and paste – no attempt to analyse, interpret

or paraphrase

Attempt 2 - Acceptable or Unacceptable?

• Evidence suggests that politicians are far from reluctant to make political capital from the debate regarding the effectiveness of bicycle helmets. When, for example, then Prime Minister Tony Blair was seeking to boost his popularity in 2005 he allowed himself to be photographed, astride a mountain bike, wearing a bicycle helmet. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, an avowed apolitical organisation, placed the photograph of the Premier prominently within their published review of the effectiveness of bicycle helmets and other road safety measures. Even though the “jury is still out” on the Blair administration’s record on road safety, many people were likely to see photos of the Premier in the helmet and make a positive link between Blair and road accident prevention. (Frances Tourdefrance (2006), p. 256).

Unacceptable Practice

Still Plagiarism, Despite Citation at End

Attempt 3 - Acceptable or Unacceptable?

• Tourdefrance (2006) noted the ambiguity of Prime Minister Blair’s position when he sought to increase his popularity in 2005. By posing for a photo opportunity in a bicycle helmet, Blair, according to this author, possibly used the appearance of concern to mislead voters about his actual record on road safety.

Acceptable Practice

Successful Paraphrasing

Attempt 4 - Acceptable or Unacceptable?

Tourdefrance (2006) noted Prime Minister Blair’s apparent ambiguity when he sought to increase his popularity in 2005. She records that:

“he allowed himself to be photographed, astride a mountain bike, wearing a bicycle helmet”. (p. 256)

She went on to comment that:“many people were likely to see photos of the

Premier in the helmet and make a positive link between Blair and road accident prevention.”. (p.256)

Acceptable Practice

Successful Citation

You should also be aware of:

• Collusion: occurs when two or more people work together to produce a piece of work, all or part of which is then submitted by each member of the group as their own individual effort. Note: Where group work is concerned academic staff give clear guidance to students on the limits of collaboration.

• Self-plagiarism: If a student copies from or resubmits his or her own previous work for another assignment, this is self-plagiarism, and is not acceptable.

So what are you going to do about it?

• Familiarise yourself with good citation practice (e.g. ALWAYS reference sources of words or ideas)

• Don’t cut and paste (try reading text aloud and then paraphrase in your own words with screen minimised) – then add reference!

• Follow guidelines in your Student Handbooks and in the study skills module provided

So what are we going to do about it?

• Every Student in the school of nursing will be given the opportunity to complete a plagiarism study skills package

• The student will be encouraged to submit an 800-word assignment to special software for plagiarism checking

• The student should try to complete this plagiarism task before submitting their first assignment

Reports

If icon is

Blue – less than 20 matching words

Green – 0 - 24%

Yellow – 25 – 49%

Orange - 50 – 70%

Red – 75 – 100% matching text

Remember!

• 24% or below is our test threshold for this exercise. This means you have to receive either a Blue report or a Green report

• If you get more than 24% (Yellow, Orange or Red) you will have to resubmit, again and again until you get it right.

• You should “Include quotes” and “Include bibliography” within this generous threshold.

What you need to do

• Work through the Study Skills Module• Complete the Practical Assignment • Submit it to your tutor via email • Wait for them to submit to turnitin and obtain

originality report• Organise tutorial with tutor for discussion of

report• Resubmit if necessary