I rarely see evidence that is convincing in the claim that plagiarism
is increasing - including this study - but I do see evidence that what
was probably happening before is now being recognised by students as
plagiarism, hence an increase in self reporting. Also, I see more
interest in looking for it, hence an apparent increase. Maybe I am
naive, but I am still of the opinion that it has been happening for a
long time, and esteemed academics, many of whom are now pointing the
finger, cut their teeth in "learning by copying". However, there
probably is still an increase, just due to the differing backgrounds of
an increasing student population. We still need to maintain academic
practices, and to discourage copying as inappropriate, but I don't
think it is an epidemic, unless it has been raging for 100 years. At
least we are finally waking up, but I wish that my cynicism of the
temptation for a good headline didn't make me doubt the reports.
I wonder what the consensus of this forum is? Do you believe it is a
rise of the offence, rather than a rise of the recognition?
Mike
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