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Suggestions on Preventing Plagiarism. Presented by Youmei Liu, Ed.D Teresa Y. Acosta, Ph.D University of Houston. Introduction. University of Houston Implementation of Turnitin Research and objectives Participants ( N = 273 students) 6 instructors from different disciplines
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Suggestions on Preventing Plagiarism Presented by Youmei Liu, Ed.D Teresa Y. Acosta, Ph.D University of Houston
Introduction • University of Houston • Implementation of Turnitin • Research and objectives • Participants (N = 273 students) 6 instructors from different disciplines • Research method
Section I Perception of Plagiarism
Did you have any understanding of plagiarism before you came to the University of Houston? 261, 97% 8, 3%
Do you regard plagiarism to be a serious issue? 253, 93% 16, 6%
Do you think plagiarism is a problem at the university? 163, 62% 101, 38%
When you are working on assignments do you use electronic resources? 243, 90% 26, 10%
Are you aware of the policies and penalties associated with plagiarism? 247, 91% 19, 7%
Summary • Students claim to know what plagiarism is, but still want more instruction and clarification. • 28% of students are copying, but do not consider it a form of plagiarism. • Some students do not think that plagiarizing a paraphrased idea is plagiarism.
Section II. Use of Turnitin Assignment Tool
Do you think the Turnitin Assignment Tool is easy to use? 251, 93% 18, 7%
Were you given adequate instructions on how to use the Turnitin Assignment Tool? 221, 83% 45, 17%
Did you experience any technical problems when you were using the Turnitin Assignment Tool? 245, 91% 23, 7%
Student Response to Technical Problems Encountered • 23 students reported that they had some technical or user problems: • Not receiving digital receipt • Cut off part of the assignment • Cannot resubmit or change assignments • Turnitin assignment link didn’t work at the beginning of the semester
Do you think the reporting from the Turnitin Assignment Tool is accurate? 217, 80% 39, 14%
Do you think the use of the Turnitin Assignment Tool is an effective way to prevent plagiarism? 234, 86% 31, 11%
Summary • Positive feedback on the tool was reported. • Since most students did not receive the originality report, we think that students based their belief in the accuracy of the report on their grade for the assignment. • Instructors (and designers) were not aware that the Turnitin assignment link must be re-created every semester, which explains students’ reporting of broken link.
Section III. Learning Improvement
I know how to appropriately cite sources. 234, 86% 35, 13%
The use of the Turnitin Assignment Tool improved my understanding of plagiarism. 41% 26% 17% 7% 8%
The report from the Turnitin Assignment Tool improved my understanding of plagiarism. 46% 26% 13% 7% 7%
The use of the Turnitin Assignment Tool encourages students to submit original work. 46% 41% 8% 1% 2%
My instructor helped me understand how to avoid plagiarism before using the Turnitin Assignment Tool. 46% 22% 17% 9% 4%
My instructor helped me understand how to avoid plagiarism after using the Turnitin Assignment Tool. 40% 28% 13% 9% 8%
Summary • Over 30% of students say that the tool helped them understand plagiarism. • Students agree that the tool encourages original work. • Students reporting having more instruction on how to avoid plagiarism before the assignment is due than after.
Section IV. Fairness of Grading
Do you think the instructor’s Turnitin assignment grading policy is fair? 249, 91% 19, 7%
Student Response to Grading Fairness • No, because a student could have written a sentence the same way it appears in a book and the Turnitin might say they plagiarized. • All TAs’ grading differently • I received a grade that was lower than I thought I should have received however no where on the Turnitin tell me why I received this grade. • The instructions should be visible on the submission page so students don't make errors. • The graders are not communicating with each other and are given grades in different standards
If you were penalized for plagiarism, do you think the penalty was appropriate? 114, 42% 50, 18%
Student Response to Penalty for Plagiarism • Sometimes you don't even realize it happens when you get wrapped up in a paper. To be automatically failed from the course seems VERY drastic for a first offense • Too harsh • Everyone deserves a second chance • What if the person did not realize they had plagiarized
Students’ Suggestions • Issue #1 – Understanding • Inform students THOROUGHLY about different aspects of plagiarism • Update school ethics code and policy to include all possible aspects of plagiarism and consequences • Incorporate policy on syllabus and remind students in each assignment • Instructor’s constant stress on the severe consequences of plagiarism
Students’ Suggestions • Issue #2 – Education • Provide freshman with training programs, classes and seminars on plagiarism • Provide handouts with different examples of plagiarism • Provide examples on how to properly cite sources, as well as examples of wrong citation • Instructors spend some face-to-face meeting with students to discuss plagiarism issues
Students’ Suggestions • Issue #3 – Encouraging Originality • Be creative thinking • Present yourself • Be original in your own material • Stress the importance of originality • Stress morality of behavior • Give extra credit for creative ideas • Create a learning environment in which individual ideas and opinions are valued (not just experts’)
Students’ Suggestions • Issue #4 – Assignment Design • Unique assignment with original material • Less research-based, expert-based assignment • Consistent in grading standards (apply to multiple TAs in the large course) • Use Turnitin Assignment Tool
Students’ Suggestions • Issue #5 – Consequences • Everyone deserves a second chance • Re-do the assignment to make it right • Fail the course • Expel (kick out of) school
Resources • Online Tutorials: • http://www.cte.usf.edu/plagiarism/plag.html • http://library.duke.edu/research/plagiarism/index.html • http://exlibris.memphis.edu/help/plagiarism/index.html
Contact Information • Youmei Liu, yliu5@uh.edu, 713-743-1146 • Teresa Acosta, tyacosta@central.uh.edu, 713-743-3161