Sorry for posting the previous message to everyone- I forgot to change the settings.

<<< [log in to unmask] 7/11 11:31a >>>
I'd be very interested in receiving your paper, and, if possible, working with you on the research.
I'm Rob Spence
English Department
Edge Hill College of HE
St Helens Road
Ormskirk
L39 4QP

Thanks in advance

<<< [log in to unmask] 7/11 11:13a >>>
Dear all
I have been following this discussion with interest and would like to mention a recent research paper which I wrote with colleagues from Plymouth university in which we looked at students' essay -writing 'tactics' ( which we called 'rules of the game'), cheating behaviours and approaches to studying. One of the arguments we put forward in this paper was that the assessment system puts pressure on students who may perceive it to be another hurdle to jump over rather than a real learning opportunity. If students do not feel that the tasks they are required to undertake in the course of their degrees are meaningful, fair and authentic, then they may be more inclined to take a strategic approach, which might range form lawful practices such as using tactics to impress their tutors through to dishonest practices such as cheating, simply to get the necessary grades. This is of course not a justification for cheating , but does mean I agree with the points made by Arlene Gibson and Peter Waterhouse about instrumentalism and the educational process itself.

If anyone would like a copy of this paper, I would be very happy to send them one in the post, if you email me your address.
The full reference is as follows:
Norton, L.S., Tilley, A.J., Newstead, S.E. & Franklyn-Stokes, A. (2001) The pressures of assessment in undergraduate courses and their effect on student behaviours. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 26, 3, 269-284.

I also believe that the whole issue of plagiarism is a particularly 'grey' area where it is very difficult sometime to draw a definite line between paraphrasing and plagiarising. I am currently designing a research study with a colleague at Liverpool Hope to look at this specific issue more closely and would welcome anyone who is interested in working with us on a joint collaborative research study. Please get in touch direclty with me if you would like to know more.

Best wishes
Lin

Dr Lin Norton
[log in to unmask]
Reader in Learning and Teaching
Learning and Teaching Fellow
Liverpool Hope
Hope Park
Liverpool L16 9JD
UK
tel: 0151-291-3643
FAX: 0151-291-3773