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Originality in Question: Plagiarism and Afghan English Major Students
Corresponding Author(s) : Abdullah Noori
Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities,
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2024): October
Abstract
Plagiarism remains a significant challenge in academic institutions worldwide, especially in contexts where English is not the primary language of instruction. Despite the widespread recognition of plagiarism as an ethical transgression, its prevalence continues to raise concerns. There is a notable research gap in understanding the specific perceptions and motivations behind plagiarism among students in non-English-speaking regions, particularly in Afghanistan. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the perceptions and underlying factors contributing to plagiarism among undergraduate English major students in Afghanistan. Through a descriptive quantitative research design, a survey questionnaire was administered to 120 English major students at a public university to explore their perceptions and reasons for engaging in plagiaristic practices. The findings revealed that students demonstrated a moderate tolerance towards plagiarism, despite acknowledging its unethical nature. Key factors influencing plagiaristic behavior include perceptions of lenient consequences, challenges with language proficiency, misconceptions about academic writing skills, and time constraints. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on academic integrity in diverse linguistic and cultural contexts. The study concludes with recommendations for students, educators, and institutions to develop strategies to combat plagiarism effectively, ultimately promoting a culture of academic integrity and intellectual honesty.
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- Abasi, A. R., & Akbari, N. (2008). Are we encouraging patchwriting? Reconsidering the role of the pedagogical context in ESL student writers’ transgressive intertextuality. English for Specific Purposes, 27(3), 267–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2008.02.001
- Al Darwish, S., & Sadeqi, A. A. (2016). Reasons for College Students to Plagiarize in EFL Writing: Students’ Motivation to Pass. International Education Studies, 9(9), 99. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v9n9p99
- Bahadori, M., Izadi, M., & Hoseinpourfard, M. (2012). Plagiarism: Concepts, factors, and solutions. Journal Mil Med, 14(3), 168–177–168–177.
- Bouman, K. (2004). Raising Questions About Plagiarism. In S. Bruce & B. A. Rafoth (Eds.), ESL Writers: A Guide for Writing Center Tutors (pp. 105–116). Boynton/Cook.
- Cleary, M. N. (2017). Top 10 reasons students plagiarize & what teachers can do about it (with apologies to David Letterman). Phi Delta Kappan, 99(4), 66–71. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031721717745548
- Creswell, J. W. (2014). Qualitative,Quantitarive, and Mixed Method Approaches Research Design. In Sage. Sage.
- Eret, E., & Gokmenoglu, T. (2010). Plagiarism in higher education: A case study with prospective academicians. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2), 3303–3307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.505
- Fraenkel, Jack R., Wallen, N. E. (2009). How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education. In McGraw-Hill Higher Education (Issue 0). McGraw-Hill International Edition.
- Gullifer, J. M., & Tyson, G. A. (2014). Who has read the policy on plagiarism? Unpacking students’ understanding of plagiarism. Studies in Higher Education, 39(7), 1202–1218. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2013.777412
- Ha, P. Le. (2006). Plagiarism and overseas students: Stereotypes again? ELT Journal, 60(1), 76–78. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci085
- Hamidi, & Jalal. (2019). Applying Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism in the English Department of Education Faculty at Balkh University. International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, 5(10), 36–41–36–41.
- Harris, R. A. (2014). Using sources effectively: strengthening your writing and avoiding plagiarism. In Library and Information Science Research (Vol. 28, Issue 2). Taylor & Francis. http://www.elsevier.com
- Heitman, E., & Litewka, S. (2011). International perspectives on plagiarism and considerations for teaching international trainees. Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations, 29(1), 104–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urolonc.2010.09.014
- Huck, S. W. (2004). Reading statistics and research (4th ed.). Boston: MA: Pearson.
- Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining Sample Size for Research Activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308
- Liu, D., & Sowden, C. (2005). Plagiarism in ESOL students: Is cultural conditioning truly the major culprit? ELT Journal, 59(3), 234–243. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci043
- Masic, I. (2012). Plagiarism in scientific publishing. Acta Informatica Medica, 20(4), 208–213. https://doi.org/10.5455/aim.2012.20.208-213
- Magara, E. (2016). Copyright Infringement for Academic Authorship in Uganda: Implications on Exemptions of Fair Use for Educational Purposes in Universities. Universal Journal of Management, 4(10), 535–549.
- McCabe, D. L., Butterfield, K. D., & Treviño, L. K. (2012). Cheating in college: Why students do it and what educators can do about it. In Cheating in College: Why Students do it and what Educators Can do About it. JHU Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/jcc-2013-0035
- Muijs, D. (2012). Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS. In Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS. Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781849209014
- Pecorari, D. (2003). Good and original: Plagiarism and patchwriting in academic second-language writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 12(4), 317–345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2003.08.004
- Pecorari, D., & Shaw, P. (2012). Types of student intertextuality and faculty attitudes. Journal of Second Language Writing, 21(2), 149–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.03.006
- Petress, K. C. (2017). Academic dishonesty: A plague on our profession. The Ethics of Teaching, 123(3), 391–394.
- Pritchett, S. (2010). Perceptions about plagiarism between faculty and undergraduate students. Alliant International University.
- Şandor, S. D. (2014). Plagiarism in the Academia.
- Shi, L. (2004). Textual Borrowing in Second-Language Writing. Written Communication, 21(2), 171–200. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741088303262846
- Sibomana, E., Ndayambaje, I., & Uwambayinema, E. (2018). Plagiarism in higher education environment: causes and solutions. Rwandan Journal of Education, 4(2), 15–23.
- Singh, S., & Remenyi, D. (2016). Plagiarism and ghostwriting: The rise in academic misconduct. South African Journal of Science, 112(5–6), 1–7–1–7. https://doi.org/10.17159/SAJS.2016/20150300
- Sowden, C. (2005). Plagiarism and the culture of multilingual students in higher education abroad. ELT Journal, 59(3), 226–233. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci042
- Spiller, D., & Ferguson, P. B. (2011). Teaching Strategies to Promote the Development of Students’ Learning Skills (Issue February). The University of Waikato.
- McNabb, D. E. (2018). Fundamentals of Quantitative Research. Research Methods in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management, 31(2), 111–121. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315181158-11
- Schminke, M., & Ambrose, M. (2014). Retraction statement for “Ethics and Integrity of the Publishing Process: Myths, Facts, and a Roadmap” by Marshall Schminke and Maureen L. Ambrose. Management and Organization Review, 10(1), 157–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/more.12046
- Weber-Wulff, D. (2013). False feathers: A perspective on academic plagiarism. In False Feathers: A Perspective on Academic Plagiarism (Vol. 9783642399). Springer Science & Business. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39961-9
- Wheeler, G. (2009). Plagiarism in the Japanese universities: Truly a cultural matter? Journal of Second Language Writing, 18(1), 17–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2008.09.004
References
Abasi, A. R., & Akbari, N. (2008). Are we encouraging patchwriting? Reconsidering the role of the pedagogical context in ESL student writers’ transgressive intertextuality. English for Specific Purposes, 27(3), 267–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2008.02.001
Al Darwish, S., & Sadeqi, A. A. (2016). Reasons for College Students to Plagiarize in EFL Writing: Students’ Motivation to Pass. International Education Studies, 9(9), 99. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v9n9p99
Bahadori, M., Izadi, M., & Hoseinpourfard, M. (2012). Plagiarism: Concepts, factors, and solutions. Journal Mil Med, 14(3), 168–177–168–177.
Bouman, K. (2004). Raising Questions About Plagiarism. In S. Bruce & B. A. Rafoth (Eds.), ESL Writers: A Guide for Writing Center Tutors (pp. 105–116). Boynton/Cook.
Cleary, M. N. (2017). Top 10 reasons students plagiarize & what teachers can do about it (with apologies to David Letterman). Phi Delta Kappan, 99(4), 66–71. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031721717745548
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Qualitative,Quantitarive, and Mixed Method Approaches Research Design. In Sage. Sage.
Eret, E., & Gokmenoglu, T. (2010). Plagiarism in higher education: A case study with prospective academicians. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2), 3303–3307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.505
Fraenkel, Jack R., Wallen, N. E. (2009). How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education. In McGraw-Hill Higher Education (Issue 0). McGraw-Hill International Edition.
Gullifer, J. M., & Tyson, G. A. (2014). Who has read the policy on plagiarism? Unpacking students’ understanding of plagiarism. Studies in Higher Education, 39(7), 1202–1218. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2013.777412
Ha, P. Le. (2006). Plagiarism and overseas students: Stereotypes again? ELT Journal, 60(1), 76–78. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci085
Hamidi, & Jalal. (2019). Applying Strategies for Avoiding Plagiarism in the English Department of Education Faculty at Balkh University. International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, 5(10), 36–41–36–41.
Harris, R. A. (2014). Using sources effectively: strengthening your writing and avoiding plagiarism. In Library and Information Science Research (Vol. 28, Issue 2). Taylor & Francis. http://www.elsevier.com
Heitman, E., & Litewka, S. (2011). International perspectives on plagiarism and considerations for teaching international trainees. Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations, 29(1), 104–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urolonc.2010.09.014
Huck, S. W. (2004). Reading statistics and research (4th ed.). Boston: MA: Pearson.
Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining Sample Size for Research Activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308
Liu, D., & Sowden, C. (2005). Plagiarism in ESOL students: Is cultural conditioning truly the major culprit? ELT Journal, 59(3), 234–243. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci043
Masic, I. (2012). Plagiarism in scientific publishing. Acta Informatica Medica, 20(4), 208–213. https://doi.org/10.5455/aim.2012.20.208-213
Magara, E. (2016). Copyright Infringement for Academic Authorship in Uganda: Implications on Exemptions of Fair Use for Educational Purposes in Universities. Universal Journal of Management, 4(10), 535–549.
McCabe, D. L., Butterfield, K. D., & Treviño, L. K. (2012). Cheating in college: Why students do it and what educators can do about it. In Cheating in College: Why Students do it and what Educators Can do About it. JHU Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/jcc-2013-0035
Muijs, D. (2012). Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS. In Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS. Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781849209014
Pecorari, D. (2003). Good and original: Plagiarism and patchwriting in academic second-language writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 12(4), 317–345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2003.08.004
Pecorari, D., & Shaw, P. (2012). Types of student intertextuality and faculty attitudes. Journal of Second Language Writing, 21(2), 149–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.03.006
Petress, K. C. (2017). Academic dishonesty: A plague on our profession. The Ethics of Teaching, 123(3), 391–394.
Pritchett, S. (2010). Perceptions about plagiarism between faculty and undergraduate students. Alliant International University.
Şandor, S. D. (2014). Plagiarism in the Academia.
Shi, L. (2004). Textual Borrowing in Second-Language Writing. Written Communication, 21(2), 171–200. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741088303262846
Sibomana, E., Ndayambaje, I., & Uwambayinema, E. (2018). Plagiarism in higher education environment: causes and solutions. Rwandan Journal of Education, 4(2), 15–23.
Singh, S., & Remenyi, D. (2016). Plagiarism and ghostwriting: The rise in academic misconduct. South African Journal of Science, 112(5–6), 1–7–1–7. https://doi.org/10.17159/SAJS.2016/20150300
Sowden, C. (2005). Plagiarism and the culture of multilingual students in higher education abroad. ELT Journal, 59(3), 226–233. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci042
Spiller, D., & Ferguson, P. B. (2011). Teaching Strategies to Promote the Development of Students’ Learning Skills (Issue February). The University of Waikato.
McNabb, D. E. (2018). Fundamentals of Quantitative Research. Research Methods in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management, 31(2), 111–121. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315181158-11
Schminke, M., & Ambrose, M. (2014). Retraction statement for “Ethics and Integrity of the Publishing Process: Myths, Facts, and a Roadmap” by Marshall Schminke and Maureen L. Ambrose. Management and Organization Review, 10(1), 157–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/more.12046
Weber-Wulff, D. (2013). False feathers: A perspective on academic plagiarism. In False Feathers: A Perspective on Academic Plagiarism (Vol. 9783642399). Springer Science & Business. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39961-9
Wheeler, G. (2009). Plagiarism in the Japanese universities: Truly a cultural matter? Journal of Second Language Writing, 18(1), 17–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2008.09.004