Suggestions on Suggestions on Preventing PlagiarismPreventing Plagiarism

Presented by Presented by Youmei Liu, Ed.DYoumei Liu, Ed.D

Teresa Y. Acosta, Ph.DTeresa Y. Acosta, Ph.DUniversity of HoustonUniversity of Houston

IntroductionIntroduction

University of Houston University of Houston Implementation of TurnitinImplementation of Turnitin Research and objectivesResearch and objectives Participants (Participants (N N = 273 students) = 273 students)

6 instructors from different 6 instructors from different disciplinesdisciplines

Research methodResearch method

Section I Section I

Perception of PlagiarismPerception of Plagiarism

Did you have any understanding of plagiarism before you Did you have any understanding of plagiarism before you

came to the University of Houston?came to the University of Houston?

s1q1NoYes

Freq

uenc

y300

200

100

0

s1q1

261, 97%

8, 3%

Do you regard plagiarism to be a serious issue?Do you regard plagiarism to be a serious issue?

s1q2NoYes

Freq

uenc

y300

200

100

0

s1q2

253, 93%

16, 6%

Do you think plagiarism is a problem at the university?Do you think plagiarism is a problem at the university?

s1q3NoYes

Freq

uenc

y200

150

100

50

0

s1q3

101, 38%

163, 62%

When you are working on assignments do you use When you are working on assignments do you use

electronic resources?electronic resources?

s1q4NoYes

Freq

uenc

y250

200

150

100

50

0

s1q4

243, 90%

26, 10%

Are you aware of the policies and penalties associated with Are you aware of the policies and penalties associated with

plagiarism?plagiarism?

s1q5NoYes

Freq

uenc

y250

200

150

100

50

0

s1q5

247, 91%

19, 7%

What do you consider plagiarism to be?What do you consider plagiarism to be?

264 255 260

62

184

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Copying frombooks/reviews,

etc.

Copying fromother students

Copying fromthe internet

Working on theassignments

together

Copying, but notrealizing it isplagiarism

SummarySummary

Students claim to know what Students claim to know what plagiarism is, but still want more plagiarism is, but still want more instruction and clarification.instruction and clarification.

28% of students are copying, but do 28% of students are copying, but do not consider it a form of plagiarism.not consider it a form of plagiarism.

Some students do not think that Some students do not think that plagiarizing a paraphrased idea is plagiarizing a paraphrased idea is plagiarism.plagiarism.

Section II. Section II.

Use of Turnitin Assignment ToolUse of Turnitin Assignment Tool

Do you think the Turnitin Assignment Tool is easy to use?Do you think the Turnitin Assignment Tool is easy to use?

s2q1NoYes

Freq

uenc

y300

200

100

0

s2q1

251, 93%

18, 7%

Were you given adequate instructions on how to use the Were you given adequate instructions on how to use the

Turnitin Assignment Tool?Turnitin Assignment Tool?

s2q3NoYes

Freq

uenc

y250

200

150

100

50

0

s2q3

221, 83%

45, 17%

Did you experience any technical problems when you were Did you experience any technical problems when you were

using the Turnitin Assignment Tool?using the Turnitin Assignment Tool?

s2q4NoYes

Freq

uenc

y250

200

150

100

50

0

s2q4

23, 7%

245, 91%

Student Response to Technical Problems EncounteredStudent Response to Technical Problems Encountered

23 students reported that they had 23 students reported that they had some technical or user problems:some technical or user problems: Not receiving digital receiptNot receiving digital receipt Cut off part of the assignmentCut off part of the assignment Cannot resubmit or change assignmentsCannot resubmit or change assignments Turnitin assignment link didn’t work at Turnitin assignment link didn’t work at

the beginning of the semesterthe beginning of the semester

Do you think the reporting from the Turnitin Assignment Do you think the reporting from the Turnitin Assignment

Tool is accurate?Tool is accurate?

s2q5NoYes

Freq

uenc

y250

200

150

100

50

0

s2q5

217, 80%

39, 14%

Do you think the use of the Turnitin Assignment Tool is an Do you think the use of the Turnitin Assignment Tool is an

effective way to prevent plagiarism?effective way to prevent plagiarism?

s2q6NoYes

Freq

uenc

y250

200

150

100

50

0

s2q6

234, 86%

31, 11%

SummarySummary

Positive feedback on the tool was Positive feedback on the tool was reported.reported.

Since most students did not receive the Since most students did not receive the originality report, we think that students originality report, we think that students based their belief in the accuracy of the based their belief in the accuracy of the report on their grade for the assignment.report on their grade for the assignment.

Instructors (and designers) were not aware Instructors (and designers) were not aware that the Turnitin assignment link must be that the Turnitin assignment link must be re-created every semester, which explains re-created every semester, which explains students’ reporting of broken link.students’ reporting of broken link.

Section III. Section III.

Learning ImprovementLearning Improvement

I know how to appropriately cite sourcesI know how to appropriately cite sources..

s3q1AgreeStrongly Agree

Freq

uenc

y250

200

150

100

50

0

s3q1

234, 86%

35, 13%

The use of the Turnitin Assignment Tool improved my The use of the Turnitin Assignment Tool improved my

understanding of plagiarism.understanding of plagiarism.

s3q2Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNo OpinionAgreeStrongly Agree

Freq

uenc

y120

100

80

60

40

20

0

s3q2

26%

41%

8%

17%

7%

The report from the Turnitin Assignment Tool improved my The report from the Turnitin Assignment Tool improved my understanding of plagiarism.understanding of plagiarism.

s3q3Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNo OpinionAgreeStrongly Agree

Freq

uenc

y

125

100

75

50

25

0

s3q3

7%

26%

46%

13% 7%

The use of the Turnitin Assignment Tool encourages The use of the Turnitin Assignment Tool encourages students to submit original work.students to submit original work.

s3q4Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNo OpinionAgreeStrongly Agree

Freq

uenc

y

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

s3q4

41%

46%

8%

1% 2%

My instructor helped me understand how to avoid My instructor helped me understand how to avoid

plagiarism before using the Turnitin Assignment Tool.plagiarism before using the Turnitin Assignment Tool.

s3q5Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNo OpinionAgreeStrongly Agree

Freq

uenc

y120

100

80

60

40

20

0

s3q5

17%

46%

22%

9%

4%

My instructor helped me understand how to avoid My instructor helped me understand how to avoid plagiarism after using the Turnitin Assignment Tool.plagiarism after using the Turnitin Assignment Tool.

s3q6Strongly DisagreeDisagreeNo OpinionAgreeStrongly Agree

Freq

uenc

y120

100

80

60

40

20

0

s3q6

9%

28%

40%

13%

8%

SummarySummary

Over 30% of students say that the Over 30% of students say that the tool helped them understand tool helped them understand plagiarism.plagiarism.

Students agree that the tool Students agree that the tool encourages original work.encourages original work.

Students reporting having more Students reporting having more instruction on how to avoid instruction on how to avoid plagiarism before the assignment is plagiarism before the assignment is due than after.due than after.

Section IV. Section IV.

Fairness of GradingFairness of Grading

Do you think the instructor’s Turnitin assignment grading Do you think the instructor’s Turnitin assignment grading policy is fair?policy is fair?

S4q1NoYes

Freq

uenc

y250

200

150

100

50

0

S4q1

249, 91%

19, 7%

Student Response to Grading FairnessStudent Response to Grading Fairness

No, because a student could have written a No, because a student could have written a sentence the same way it appears in a book and sentence the same way it appears in a book and the Turnitin might say they plagiarized. the Turnitin might say they plagiarized.

All TAs’ grading differentlyAll TAs’ grading differently I received a grade that was lower than I thought I received a grade that was lower than I thought

I should have received however no where on I should have received however no where on the Turnitin tell me why I received this grade. the Turnitin tell me why I received this grade.

The instructions should be visible on the The instructions should be visible on the submission page so students don't make errors. submission page so students don't make errors.

The graders are not communicating with each The graders are not communicating with each other and are given grades in different other and are given grades in different standardsstandards

If you were penalized for plagiarism, do you think the If you were penalized for plagiarism, do you think the

penalty was appropriate?penalty was appropriate?

S4q2NoYes

Freq

uenc

y120

100

80

60

40

20

0

S4q2

114, 42%

50, 18%

Student Response to Penalty for PlagiarismStudent Response to Penalty for Plagiarism

Sometimes you don't even realize it Sometimes you don't even realize it happens when you get wrapped up happens when you get wrapped up in a paper. To be automatically in a paper. To be automatically failed from the course seems VERY failed from the course seems VERY drastic for a first offensedrastic for a first offense

Too harshToo harsh Everyone deserves a second chanceEveryone deserves a second chance What if the person did not realize What if the person did not realize

they had plagiarized they had plagiarized

Students’ SuggestionsStudents’ Suggestions

Students’ SuggestionsStudents’ Suggestions

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Thuro

ugh u

nders

tandin

g

Well

info

rmed

Expla

in c

onsequences

instr

ucto

r's c

onsta

nt em

phasis

voila

tion s

chool e

thic

s c

ode

Pro

vid

e T

rain

ing / c

ours

e / s

em

inar

/ handouts

See c

itatio

n e

xam

ple

s

Expla

in p

lagia

rism

Pro

per

cita

tion

Use T

urn

itin

Uniq

ue A

ssig

nm

ent

Import

ance o

f origin

alit

y

Do y

our

ow

n w

ork

Be c

reativ

e

Critic

al t

hin

kin

g

Repre

sent yours

elf

Severe

consequence

Deserv

e 2

nd c

hance

Redo A

ssig

nm

ent

Kic

k o

ut of school

Don't

work

on Inte

rnet

Less r

esearc

h-b

ased a

ssig

nm

ent

Less a

ssig

nm

ent

Mora

l issue b

y c

hoic

e

No w

ay to v

oid

it d

ue to e

asy a

ccess o

f in

fo

Superv

isio

n

Fail

the c

ours

e

Instr

ucto

r should

keep p

revio

us a

ssig

nm

ents

Students’ SuggestionsStudents’ Suggestions Issue #1 – UnderstandingIssue #1 – Understanding

Inform students THOROUGHLY about Inform students THOROUGHLY about different aspects of plagiarismdifferent aspects of plagiarism

Update school ethics code and policy to Update school ethics code and policy to include all possible aspects of plagiarism include all possible aspects of plagiarism and consequencesand consequences

Incorporate policy on syllabus and Incorporate policy on syllabus and remind students in each assignmentremind students in each assignment

Instructor’s constant stress on the Instructor’s constant stress on the severe consequences of plagiarismsevere consequences of plagiarism

Students’ SuggestionsStudents’ Suggestions Issue #2 – EducationIssue #2 – Education

Provide freshman with training programs, Provide freshman with training programs, classes and seminars on plagiarismclasses and seminars on plagiarism

Provide handouts with different examples of Provide handouts with different examples of plagiarismplagiarism

Provide examples on how to properly cite Provide examples on how to properly cite sources, as well as examples of wrong sources, as well as examples of wrong citationcitation

Instructors spend some face-to-face meeting Instructors spend some face-to-face meeting with students to discuss plagiarism issueswith students to discuss plagiarism issues

Students’ SuggestionsStudents’ Suggestions Issue #3 – Encouraging OriginalityIssue #3 – Encouraging Originality

Be creative thinkingBe creative thinking Present yourselfPresent yourself Be original in your own materialBe original in your own material Stress the importance of originalityStress the importance of originality Stress morality of behaviorStress morality of behavior Give extra credit for creative ideasGive extra credit for creative ideas Create a learning environment in which Create a learning environment in which

individual ideas and opinions are valued (not individual ideas and opinions are valued (not just experts’)just experts’)

Students’ SuggestionsStudents’ Suggestions

Issue #4 – Assignment DesignIssue #4 – Assignment Design Unique assignment with original Unique assignment with original

materialmaterial Less research-based, expert-based Less research-based, expert-based

assignmentassignment Consistent in grading standards (apply Consistent in grading standards (apply

to multiple TAs in the large course)to multiple TAs in the large course) Use Turnitin Assignment ToolUse Turnitin Assignment Tool

Students’ SuggestionsStudents’ Suggestions

Issue #5 – ConsequencesIssue #5 – Consequences Everyone deserves a second chanceEveryone deserves a second chance Re-do the assignment to make it rightRe-do the assignment to make it right Fail the courseFail the course Expel (kick out of) schoolExpel (kick out of) school

ResourcesResources

Online Tutorials:Online Tutorials:

http://www.cte.usf.edu/plagiarism/plag.hhttp://www.cte.usf.edu/plagiarism/plag.htmltml

http://library.duke.edu/research/plagiarihttp://library.duke.edu/research/plagiarism/index.htmlsm/index.html

http://exlibris.memphis.edu/help/plagiarihttp://exlibris.memphis.edu/help/plagiarism/index.htmlsm/index.html

Contact InformationContact Information

Youmei Liu, Youmei Liu, yliu5@uh.eduyliu5@uh.edu, 713-743-, 713-743-11461146

Teresa Acosta, Teresa Acosta, tyacosta@central.uh.edutyacosta@central.uh.edu, 713-743-, 713-743-31613161