Motivations, definitions, and the “plagiarism trap”:

Perceptions of academic integrity across cultures

Claire WalkerResearch & Instruction Librarian

Lila D. Bunch LibraryBelmont University

Amanda B. ClickDoctoral Fellow

School of Information & Library ScienceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Survey DemographicsAUC

• 130 responses• 36% male, 64% female• Most common majors:

undeclared, business administration, political science, integrated marketing communication

Belmont• 89 responses• 36% male, 64 % female• Most common majors:

entertainment and music business, health sciences/nursing, social sciences

Defining Academic IntegrityBelmont

• Originality of work• No cheating• Proper use of others’

work

AUC• No cheating• Proper use of others’

work• Honesty

Perceptions of AI on Campus• I understand the concept of academic

integrity.• I think that Belmont/AUC students in general

are ethical students.• I believe that my professors encourage

ethical behavior.• During my time at Belmont/AUC, I have been

taught about academic integrity.

Reporting Classmates• I would report a classmate to the Honor

Court/Academic Integrity Committee for cheating.

• I would report a classmate to the Honor Court/Academic Integrity Committee for plagiarizing.

• I would I would report a classmate to the professor for cheating.

• I would I would report a classmate to the professor for plagiarizing.

Learning about AIAUC

• Professors• Freshman Year

Experience • Specific classes• Family• High school

Belmont• Professors• Specific classes• Syllabus/Honor Code• High school• Welcome

Week/Towering Traditions

Frequency of Dishonest Behaviors AUC students

plagiarize…AUC students cheat…

I plagiarize… I cheat…

Often 51% 73% 3% 5%Rarely 42% 22% 19% 23%Never 7% 5% 78% 72%Totals 100.0% 100% 100% 100%

BU students plagiarize…

BU students cheat…

I plagiarize… I cheat…

Often 27% 47% 5% 7%Rarely 61% 51% 3% 11%Never 12% 2% 92% 82%Totals 100.0% 100% 100% 100%

Reasons for Dishonest Behaviors

Similarities: • Taking the easy way out • Laziness • Not enough time• Want better grades

Reasons for Dishonest Behaviors

Differences: • Culturally accepted• Blaming professors

• Pressure (aside from grades)• Lack of consequences

Themes/Theories• Confusion about academic integrity concepts

and rules• Collectivist nature of culture• Technology supported dishonesty• Time constraints• Creativity as motivation

Librarians Promoting AI• Teach students to USE information properly, not

just FIND it• Offer workshops on citation, time management,

etc. • Promote a unified perspective on appropriate

scholarly behavior • Work with faculty to develop better

assignments• Think about academic integrity instruction as

discipline-specific

Thank you!Questions? Comments?

Claire Walkerclaire.walker@belmont.edu

Amanda Clickaclick@live.unc.edu