This comment was more in jest but I have had one or two students worried and wanting me to look over work before submission. Generally reassured them and I've referred them back to the study skills material we give them which includes information on plagiarism and how to avoid it.
I've never actually found plagiarism in the work of a student who has come with these worries.
Tim
-----Original Message-----
From: Derek Ord [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 03 July 2003 09:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Detection software - prevention and cure and different
products
I'm interested in your suggestion that students may now be over-sensitive to
plagiarism issues. How does this show itself, and is it affecting their
ability to present their work in the best possible light? Has anyone else
started to encounter this problem?
Derek.
_______________________________
D.J. Ord
Acting Head of Student Administrative Services
University of Hull
http://www.student-admin.hull.ac.uk
(01482) 465980
----- Original Message -----
From: "Grant, T." <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2003 9:40 AM
Subject: Re: Detection software - prevention and cure and different products
I too think the recent discussion on detection software could be seen as
missing the point and would support a holistic approach of prevention
through imaginative work setting and strongly communicated plagiarism
policies to students. But I do believe that detection software can be part
of the prevention policy.
We introduced CopyCatch about a year ago and for the first time insisted
that students submit electronic copies of work alongside the paper
submissions. In addition there is now a check box on the cover sheet which
students have to tick to indicate that they have submitted the electronic
version and that this will be used for plagiarism checking. This measure
alone has had a profound effect on our students who are now very (perhaps
over) sensitive to plagiarism issues.
With regard to the debate which has been occurring of Turnitin vs. CopyCatch
I would agree that in most respects the comparison is of chalk with cheese.
As a linguist with an interest in authorship attribution work, I do have an
explanation for those who have reported failures in finding matches with
Turnitin. It appears to detect only exact matches of sentences/paragraphs.
In this respect CopyCatch has the advantage, because it has a linguistic
base, it succeeds in detecting close paraphrasing or even over reliance on a
source.
Tim
______________________________________
Tim Grant
Forensic Linguist
Lecturer in Forensic Psychology
Forensic Section
School of Psychology
University of Leicester
Cobden House
106 New Walk
Leicester
LE1 7EA
[log in to unmask]
http://www.le.ac.uk/psychology/tg21/
0116 252 3658 (Direct Line)
0116 252 2451 (Secretary)
0116 252 3994 (Fax)
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