1@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Plagiarism and
Contract Cheating
in Higher Education
Presented by Dr. Thomas Lancasterat University of Montenegroon Tuesday 8 November 2016
http://[email protected]@DrLancaster
2@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Plagiarism and Contract Cheating Workshop Objectives
3@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Interactive Workshop - addressing
What does academic integrity mean within teaching, learning and assessment – and how can we ensure that students are completing their courses with integrity?
How does plagiarism and contract cheating research inform how we teach and assess?
What are the continuing challenges for teachers and researchers within the plagiarism and contract cheating fields?
4@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Yes – This Is An Interactive Workshop!
Twitter Please tweet observations, comments, quotes, photos, discussion topics@DrLancaster#contractcheating
Live Please join in the discussion, ask questions and contribute ideas
5@DrLancaster #contractcheating
My Background For The Academic Integrity Workshop
6@DrLancaster #contractcheating
My Background
Associate Head for School of Computing Electronics and Mathematics atCoventry University, United Kingdom
Principal Lecturer with particular interests in student employability,research methods and social media marketing
Research Active, publishing on student cheating, plagiarism preventionand plagiarism detection since 2000
Regular Keynote Speaker on academic ghostwriting, essay mills andcontract cheating
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Part of the Coventry University team representing the European Networkfor Academic Integrity (ENAI)
Working with Codio 2016
7@DrLancaster #contractcheating
http://www.slideshare.net/ThomasLancaster
A selection of my recent presentation slides are archived on my SlideShare account
(the slides from today’s workshop are also available on SlideShare)
8@DrLancaster #contractcheating
The Wider Background For This Academic Integrity Workshop
9@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Three Projects
The workshop has come about due to three developments:
European Network for Academic Integrity (ENAI)
Impact of Policies for Plagiarism in Higher Education Across Europe (IPPHEAE)
South East European Project on Policies for Academic Integrity (SEEPPAI)
10@DrLancaster #contractcheating
European Network for Academic Integrity (ENAI)
A newly formed consortium of 12 European partners, with opportunities for further institutions and individuals to join
Lead partner and administrator is Mendel University in Brno
Aims to develop resources and materials supporting and promoting academic integrity
Holds annual conferences (next one in Brno on 24 to 26 May 2017)
https://www.academicintegrity.eu
11@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Impact of Policies for Plagiarism in Higher Education Across Europe (IPPHEAE)
European Union (Erasmus) funded project, completed between 2010-2013Led by Irene Glendinning from Coventry University, United Kingdom, supported by partners in Poland, Lithuania, Cyprus and the Czech RepublicInvestigated Higher Education approaches to plagiarism and academic misconduct across 27 EU member states – including good practiceMore findings from IPPHEAE later
http://plagiarism.cz/ippheae
12@DrLancaster #contractcheating
South East European Project on Policies for Academic Integrity (SEEPPAI)
Extension of the IPPHEAE research to six further countries
Funded by the Council of Europe (CoE) with completion due by 1 April 2017
Consortium of Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic and Coventry University, United Kingdom
Intended as the first of several regional studies to extend the IPPHEAE research to 50 European countries
Data collection using surveys, interviews and focus groups
Supported by workshops and sharing of resourceshttp://plagiarism.cz/seeppai
14@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Discussion Question
What do you understand by the term
academic integrity?
15@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Academic Integrity
Of European and global interest
Hard to get a complete and precise definitionMostly defined by areas constituting academic dishonesty, academic
misconduct or research fraud
Often compared with “cheating”
Useful to think about and use the term academic integrity as a positive alternative to the more negative connotations
16@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Academic Integrity
“The International Center for Academic Integrity defines academic integrity as a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage”
http://www.academicintegrity.org/icai/resources-2.php
17@DrLancaster #contractcheating
A Student View
“Academic and higher learning is founded on principles of Integrity.Manipulating your ideas through outside minds takes away from independent creative thought.”
https://twitter.com/ToasterRyan
18@DrLancaster #contractcheating
What Does Not Constitute Academic Integrity?
For Students
Plagiarism
Contract Cheating
Cheating in Exams
Fraudulent Data
Fake Medical Conditions
Helping others to be dishonest
For Teachers and Researchers
Research fraud
Publishing the same output multiple times
Incorrect attribution of authorship
Ignoring sources during research
Unacknowledged sources
Not leading students by example
20@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Discussion Question
What do you understand by the term
plagiarism?
21@DrLancaster #contractcheating
My Standard Definition
Taking the words or ideasof another and using them without acknowledgement
This general definition is based loosely on many others,including my previous published research
22@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Formalised Definition
“Plagiarism occurs when someone:
1. Uses words, ideas, or work products
2. Attributable to another identifiable person or source
3. Without attributing the work to the source from which it was obtained
4. In a situation in which there is a legitimate expectation of original authorship
5. In order to obtain some benefit, credit, or gain which need not be monetary”
Fishman, T. (2009). ‘We know it when we see it’ is not good enough: toward a standard definition of plagiarism that transcends theft, fraud, and copyright
23@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Other Plagiarism Definition
Within teaching and universities, it is helpful to have a:
Legal definition, for academic integrity policies
Teaching definition, to help students to understand plagiarism
24@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Discussion Question
Why do students plagiarise?
25@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Why Do Students Plagiarise?
Common Reasons Given
Lack of time
Lack of understanding
Laziness
Missing the core knowledge
Don’t know how to write well
Don’t know how to reference
Don’t want to learn
Poor standard of teaching
Can’t see the value of their subject
Too much work
26@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Risk vs Reward
“essentially…
because the perceived chances of being caught and the perceived punishment if caught are less than the perceived benefit of cheating, at the time when the cheating occurs”
"Practical Free-text Plagiarism Investigation"Professor Fintan Culwin
28@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Text Plagiarism (Fictitious Example)
“One of the key roles for academic staff is to ensure that academic integrity is maintained within their institutions.”
(taken from some of my earlier work)
“A key role for university lecturers is to ensure that academic integrity is still present in their institutions.”
(quickly edited version)
29@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Can Be Detected Using Text Matching Tools
“One of the key roles for academic staff is to ensure that academic integrity ismaintained within their institutions.”
“A key role for university lecturers is to ensure that academic integrity is still present in their institutions.”
30@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Plagiarism extends beyond text and is not always so easy to spot
31@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Plagiarism In Advertising
https://twitter.com/cyriakharris
32@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Plagiarism In Software Interfaces
Plotted Ring of Analysed Information
for Similarity Exploration (PRAISE)Sherlock
Sherlock image from https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/dcs/research/ias/software/sherlock
PRAISE developed by Jonas Altin, Thomas Lancaster and Fintan Culwin
33@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Plagiarism Of Jokes!
Cartoon from R. J. Maston in July 2016
“Reused” by Donald Trump in October 2016 speech
http://www.rjmatson.com
34@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Plagiarism In Online Discussions
“I just had a student who self-reported plagiarism after she saw the exact response posted by another student. When I went in to check, I saw that the student self-reporting was the first one to respond…”
Kelly Huffstutler-Pettyhttps://cirt.gcu.edu/teaching3/facultyforum/forums/plagiarisminthediscussionforums
35@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Not Always Plagiarism?
https://vivatiffany.wordpress.com/2016/10/27/academia-love-me-back
Tiffany Martínez accused of plagiarism in front of her college class
36@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Services For Academics
Note: parody post – but similar services exist
37@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Paper Retractions
“In a massive cleanup, Springer and BioMed Central announced today they are retracting 58 papers for several reasons, including manipulation of the peer-review process and inappropriately allocating authorship.”
From Retraction Watch
November 1, 2016 http://retractionwatch.com/2016/11/01/springer-bmc-retracting-nearly-60-papers-for-fake-reviews-and-other-issues
38@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Essay Spinning (Back Translation)
Essays and assignments can be translated through one or more languages to avoid being detected as plagiarised
39@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Text Plagiarism (Fictitious Example)
“One of the key roles for academic staff is to
ensure that academic integrity is maintained
within their institutions.”
“En av de viktigste rollene for vitenskapelig ansatte
er å sikre at faglige integritet opprettholdes
innenfor sine institusjoner.“
“One of the most important roles for the
academic staff is to ensure that academic integrity is maintained
within their institutions.”
Translated from English to
Norwegian using Google Translate
Translated from Norwegian back to
English using Bing Translate
40@DrLancaster #contractcheating
The Dangers Of Google Translate
https://twitter.com/HumorousFeed
41@DrLancaster #contractcheating
The Challenge Of Students Buying Work
42@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Discussion Question
Do students get other people to do their work for them? How do
we know this?
43@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Contract Cheating
Contract cheating takes place when a student uses a third party to complete their academic work for them.
Because the work is bespoke in nature, it will not usually be detected as possible plagiarism when using text matching tools.
45@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Advert On Bulletin Board
“University approved” contract cheating advert found on bulletin boards in Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada
fake stamp“Ghostwriters have arrived in North America, no more worries aboutyour essays.”
http://www.richmond-news.com/news/chinese-cheat-sheet-ads-removed-from-university-bulletin-boards-1.2365350
Richmond News, October 14 2016
46@DrLancaster #contractcheating
University Level Work Seen In An Essay Mill That Uses Writers From The United States
Personal Communication From A Writer For An Essay Mill(Used With Permission)
1 Business=2 Health (including nursing and psychology)=2 IT4 History5 Anthropology6 Sociology7 English language and literature8 Law
(first three subjects - in red - said to dominate the requests)
Similar results seen in our study “Commercial Aspects of Contract Cheating”
47@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Example Of The Type Of Requests Seen Online
Word Count: 1500 wordsThe purpose of this assignment task is to identify the principles of professional nursing practice, outline the ethical and legal frameworks for professional practice and apply the Ethical Decision Making Framework to a complex scenario to establish an ethically and legally sound decision. Remember to incorporate evidenced-based practice in relation to quality patient care.
Paid $90 AUD(63 Euros) 44 bidders
48@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Some Of Our Research Findings
Cheating is habitual – the “average” student posted multiple requests on an online auction site before they were spotted
Cheating can be “cheap” (a sample showed an average purchase price of $101 USD – 91 Euros)
Requests made across all academic areas – particularly from the Business discipline
49@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Contract Cheating In Online Discussions
“I just had a student who self-reported plagiarism after she saw the exact response posted by another student. When I went in to check, I saw that the student self-reporting was the first one to respond to the DQ and asked how it was that she had plagiarized the other student. She responded that she had 'purchased' her DQ response!”
Kelly Huffstutler-Pettyhttps://cirt.gcu.edu/teaching3/facultyforum/forums/plagiarisminthediscussionforums
50@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Important Findings
Contract cheating is not just for essays – it can include all types of assessments – reports, presentations, examinations
Students know about contract cheating services and students use them - the opportunities are widely advertised to them
Some students do the work for their peers (in return for money, because they are required to, for personal gratification and for other “favours”)
51@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Discussion Question
What should we do about contract cheating?
52@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Impact of Policies for Plagiarism in Higher Education Across Europe
(IPPHEAE)
53@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Findings From The 2010-2013 Study (1)
Ignoring academic integrity is a global problem, threatening educational standards
The original study focused on 27 countries
All countries studied showed some good practice and some areas needing improvement
Many higher education institutions said that they did not have a problem with academic integrity
Some countries said that they did not have a problem with academic integrity!http://plagiarism.cz/ippheae
54@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Findings From The 2010-2013 Study (2)
Vast differences in processes between countries, particularly relating to:
How plagiarism is defined
The level of maturity of policies
When penalties are given to students
The level of penalties that are given to students
http://plagiarism.cz/ippheae
55@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Findings From The 2010-2013 Study (3)
In general UK higher education institutions had the most mature academic integrity policiesBut some individual institutions within the UK had weak policies
Only two countries (Sweden and Austria) kept national academic integrity statistics
No countries kept useful academic integrity statistics on a national level
http://plagiarism.cz/ippheae
56@DrLancaster #contractcheating
What Should We Do Next About Academic Integrity?
57@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Prevention vs Detection
Detection cannot be 100% successful…
But, detection tools should still be usedThey provide a preventative solution to deter some students from
plagiarising
Other preventative techniques are needed when considering how assessments are set
58@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Discussion Question
How do we set assessments for students to reduce
plagiarism and contract cheating?
59@DrLancaster #contractcheating
(Some Possible) Examples of Good Practice When Setting Assessments
Work with students to design assessments that interest them
Set new assessments for students every time
a course runs
Introduce localised knowledge into
assessments
Introduce a face-to-face component to assessments
Use a viva (spoken examination) during
assessments
Ask for students to supply details about how they produced
work, not just the end-result
Formalise student team working to simulate an industry environment
Use innovative assessment, such as
through social media, to appeal to students
These are common examples from the literature – but be aware that the potential for outsourcing still exists
60@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Research Opportunities
Policies and Processes: Consistency and effectiveness
Detection: Translated sources, language style changes
Non-textual plagiarism: Music, diagrams, mathematics
Localised approaches: National studies, subject specific studies
Student-led initiatives: Case studies, effectiveness
61@DrLancaster #contractcheating
We need to lead by example when promoting academic integrity to students.
We need to call upon the support of students to ensure academic integrity.
63@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Dr. Thomas Lancaster
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://thomaslancaster.co.uk
Blog: http://thomaslancaster.co.uk/blog
LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/thomaslancaster
Twitter: @DrLancaster
General Resources:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_cheatinghttp://contractcheating.com
Contract Cheating Special Interest Group(originally supported by the Higher Education Academy):https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=CONTRACTCHEATING
Available to support contract cheating activities, deliver staff training, present research seminars and generally promote academic integrity
64@DrLancaster #contractcheating
With Thanks To Those Involved With My Plagiarism And Contract Cheating Journey
Irene Glendinning Corinne Hersey Professor Fintan Culwin
http://myweb.lsbu.ac.uk/~fintanhttps://uk.linkedin.com/in/irene-glendinning-81013752
https://ca.linkedin.com/pub/corinne-hersey/10/579/797
“Detective” Robert Clarke
https://uk.linkedin.com/pub/robert-clarke/16/12a/967
Jonas Altin
https://twitter.com/JAltin
65@DrLancaster #contractcheating
Lancaster, T. and Clarke, R. (2015). Contract Cheating – The Outsourcing Of Assessed Student Work, in Handbook of Academic Integrity, Bretag, T. (editor): SpringerReference.
Lancaster, T. and Clarke, R. (2015). The Implications of Plagiarism and Contract Cheating for the Assessment of Database Modules. 13th International Workshop on Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Databases (TLAD2015), Birmingham, UK, July 2015.
Hersey, C. and Lancaster, T. (2015). The Online Industry of Paper Mills, Contract Cheating Services, and Auction Sites, Clute Institute International Education Conference, London, June 2015.
Lancaster, T. and Clarke, R. (2014). An Observational Analysis Of The Range And Extent Of Contract Cheating From Online Courses Found On Agency Websites; 8th International Conference on Complex, Intelligent andSoftware Intensive Systems (CISIS 2014), Birmingham City University, UK, July 2014.
Lancaster, T. and Clarke, R. (2014). An Initial Analysis Of The Contextual Information Available Within Auction Posts On Contract Cheating Agency Websites, 28th IEEE International Conference on Advanced InformationNetworking and Applications, University of Victoria, May 2014
Lancaster, T. and Clarke, R. (2014). Using Turnitin As A Tool For Attribution In Cases Of Contract Cheating; 3rd Annual Higher Education Academy Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Universityof Edinburgh, Edinburgh, April 2014.
Clarke, R. and Lancaster, T. (2013). Commercial Aspects Of Contract Cheating; 8th Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK, July 2013.
Lancaster, T and Clarke, R (2012). Dealing With Contract Cheating: A Question Of Attribution; 1st Annual Higher Education Academy Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Imperial College,London, April 2012.
Lancaster, T and Clarke, R (2010). Staff-Led Individualised Assessment – A Case Study; 11th Annual Higher Education Academy Conference in Information and Computer Sciences, Durham University, August 2010.
Lancaster, T and Clarke, R (2008). How to Succeed at Cheating Without Really Trying: Five Top Tips for Successful Cheating; 9th Annual Higher Education Academy Conference in Information and Computer Sciences,Liverpool Hope University, August 2008.
Clarke, R, and Lancaster, T (2007). Establishing a Systematic Six-Stage Process for Detecting Contract Cheating; The Second International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Applications, Birmingham City University,July 2007.
Lancaster, T and Clarke, R (2007). Assessing Contract Cheating Through Auction Sites – A Computing Perspective; 8th Annual Higher Education Academy Conference in Information and Computer Sciences, University ofSouthampton, August 2007.
Lancaster, T and Clarke, R (2007). The Phenomena of Contract Cheating, in Student Plagiarism in an Online World: Problems and solutions, Roberts, T. S. (editor), Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA: Idea Group Inc.
Clarke, R and Lancaster, T (2006). Eliminating The Successor To Plagiarism? Identifying The Usage Of Contract Cheating Sites; 2nd Plagiarism: Prevention, Practice and Policy Conference 2006 - Newcastle, UK, June 2006.
Culwin F. and Lancaster T. (2001), Plagiarism Issues for Higher Education. Vine 31(2), pp. 36-41.
References For (Some Of) My Plagiarism And Contract Cheating Publications
Top Related