Motivations, definitions, and the

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Motivations, definitions, and the plagiarism
trap Perceptions of academic integrity across
cultures
Claire Walker Research Instruction
Librarian Lila D. Bunch Library Belmont University
Amanda B. Click Doctoral Fellow School of
Information Library Science University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Survey Demographics

• AUC
• 130 responses
• 36 male, 64 female
• Most common majors undeclared, business
  administration, political science, integrated
  marketing communication

• Belmont
• 89 responses
• 36 male, 64 female
• Most common majors entertainment and music
  business, health sciences/nursing, social
  sciences

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Defining Academic Integrity

• AUC
• No cheating
• Proper use of others work
• Honesty

• Belmont
• Originality of work
• No cheating
• Proper use of others work

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Perceptions of AI on Campus

• I understand the concept of academic integrity.
• I think that Belmont/AUC students in general are
  ethical students.
• I believe that my professors encourage ethical
  behavior.
• During my time at Belmont/AUC, I have been taught
  about academic integrity.

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Reporting Classmates

• I would report a classmate to the Honor
  Court/Academic Integrity Committee for cheating.
• I would report a classmate to the Honor
  Court/Academic Integrity Committee for
  plagiarizing.
• I would I would report a classmate to the
  professor for cheating.
• I would I would report a classmate to the
  professor for plagiarizing.

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Learning about AI

• AUC
• Professors
• Freshman Year Experience
• Specific classes
• Family
• High school

• Belmont
• Professors
• Specific classes
• Syllabus/Honor Code
• High school
• Welcome Week/Towering Traditions

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Frequency of Dishonest Behaviors
  AUC students plagiarize AUC students cheat I plagiarize I cheat
Often 51 73 3 5
Rarely 42 22 19 23
Never 7 5 78 72
Totals 100.0 100 100 100
  BU students plagiarize BU students cheat I plagiarize I cheat
Often 27 47 5 7
Rarely 61 51 3 11
Never 12 2 92 82
Totals 100.0 100 100 100
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Reasons for Dishonest Behaviors

• Similarities
• Taking the easy way out
• Laziness
• Not enough time
• Want better grades

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Reasons for Dishonest Behaviors

• Differences
• Culturally accepted
• Blaming professors
• Pressure (aside from grades)
• Lack of consequences

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Themes/Theories

• Confusion about academic integrity concepts and
  rules
• Collectivist nature of culture
• Technology supported dishonesty
• Time constraints
• Creativity as motivation

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Librarians Promoting AI

• Teach students to USE information properly, not
  just FIND it
• Offer workshops on citation, time management,
  etc.
• Promote a unified perspective on appropriate
  scholarly behavior
• Work with faculty to develop better assignments
• Think about academic integrity instruction as
  discipline-specific

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• Thank you!
• Questions? Comments?

Claire Walker claire.walker_at_belmont.edu
Amanda Click aclick_at_live.unc.edu