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Plagiarism in Higher Education: Challenges, Detection, and Prevention

Marc Jacquinet

December 2024

 

Introduction

Plagiarism represents one of the most significant challenges to academic integrity in higher education. The digital age has both complicated the nature of plagiarism and enhanced our ability to detect it, creating a complex landscape that demands sophisticated responses from educational institutions.

The Evolving Nature of Plagiarism

Traditional vs. Digital Plagiarism

The traditional concept of plagiarism has evolved significantly with technological advancement. As Howard and Robillard (2018) argue in “Pluralizing Plagiarism: Identities, Contexts, Pedagogies,” digital technologies have created new forms of academic dishonesty. These include code plagiarism in computer science, the use of artificial intelligence for content generation, and the manipulation of digital texts through spinning and paraphrasing tools.

Cultural and International Perspectives

Different cultural understandings of intellectual property significantly impact plagiarism. As discussed by Pennycook (2016) in “Borrowing Others’ Words: Text, Ownership, Memory, and Plagiarism,” what constitutes plagiarism varies across cultures, particularly regarding the concepts of knowledge ownership and textual borrowing. This presents unique challenges in increasingly internationalized higher education settings.

Detection and Technology

Automated Detection Systems

Modern plagiarism detection tools have become increasingly sophisticated. According to Weber-Wulff’s (2019) comprehensive study in “False Feathers: A Perspective on Academic Plagiarism,” while tools like Turnitin and iThenticate have improved detection capabilities, they also have limitations and can produce false positives. The effectiveness of these tools depends heavily on proper interpretation of results by experienced educators.

Emerging Challenges

The rise of artificial intelligence and language models presents new detection challenges. Research by Lancaster and Cotarlan (2021) in “Contract Cheating and Assessment Design” highlights how AI-generated content can bypass traditional plagiarism detection methods, necessitating new approaches to assessment design and verification.

Prevention Strategies

Pedagogical Approaches

Writing Process Emphasis

Moore (2020) in “The Writing Center Director’s Resource Book” advocates for teaching writing as a process rather than focusing solely on the final product. This approach includes:

  • Requiring multiple drafts
  • Implementing peer review sessions
  • Conducting individual writing conferences
  • Teaching proper citation practices explicitly

Assessment Design

Strategic assessment design can significantly reduce plagiarism opportunities. Bretag (2020) in “A Research Agenda for Academic Integrity” suggests:

  • Creating unique, contextualized assignments
  • Implementing staged assessment tasks
  • Using authentic assessment methods
  • Regular updating of assignment topics

Institutional Policies

Clear Guidelines and Consequences

Research by McCabe, Butterfield, and Treviño (2017) in “Cheating in College: Why Students Do It and What Educators Can Do About It” emphasizes the importance of:

  • Establishing clear academic integrity policies
  • Ensuring consistent enforcement
  • Implementing fair appeal processes
  • Providing remediation opportunities

Support Systems

Effective plagiarism prevention requires comprehensive support systems, including:

  • Writing centers
  • Academic integrity tutorials
  • Citation management workshops
  • ESL support services

The Role of Faculty

Training and Development

Faculty members need ongoing training to address plagiarism effectively. East and Donnelly (2022) in “Academic Integrity and Plagiarism: A Teaching Perspective” emphasize the importance of:

  • Understanding cultural differences in citation practices
  • Recognizing various forms of plagiarism
  • Implementing preventive pedagogical strategies
  • Using detection tools effectively

Mentoring and Guidance

Faculty serve as primary mentors in developing students’ academic integrity. This includes:

  • Modeling proper citation practices
  • Discussing academic integrity regularly
  • Providing formative feedback
  • Creating supportive learning environments

Future Considerations

Technological Adaptation

Educational institutions must continuously adapt to technological changes. This includes:

  • Developing new detection methods
  • Updating policies for AI-generated content
  • Implementing blockchain for academic verification
  • Creating adaptive assessment systems

Policy Evolution

Institutions need to evolve their policies to address emerging challenges:

  • Incorporating AI usage guidelines
  • Developing cross-border plagiarism protocols
  • Implementing universal academic integrity standards
  • Creating collaborative detection networks

References

Bretag, T. (2020). A Research Agenda for Academic Integrity. Edward Elgar Publishing.

East, J., & Donnelly, L. (2022). Academic Integrity and Plagiarism: A Teaching Perspective. Routledge.

Howard, R. M., & Robillard, A. E. (2018). Pluralizing Plagiarism: Identities, Contexts, Pedagogies. Heinemann.

Lancaster, T., & Cotarlan, C. (2021). Contract Cheating and Assessment Design. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education.

McCabe, D. L., Butterfield, K. D., & Treviño, L. K. (2017). Cheating in College: Why Students Do It and What Educators Can Do About It. Johns Hopkins University Press.

Moore, S. (2020). The Writing Center Director’s Resource Book. NCTE Press.

Pennycook, A. (2016). Borrowing Others’ Words: Text, Ownership, Memory, and Plagiarism. Applied Linguistics.

Weber-Wulff, D. (2019). False Feathers: A Perspective on Academic Plagiarism. Springer.


OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
Marc Jacquinet (28 décembre 2024). Plagiarism in Higher Education: Challenges, Detection, and Prevention. Critique du management. Consulté le 28 avril 2025 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/12zvu


Marc Jacquinet

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1157-060X

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