SGS 101 September 2008 Andrea Thyret-Kidd Academic Integrity Officer McMaster University

This presentation was created by: Academic Integrity Office Andrea Thyret-Kidd Centre for Leadership in Learning Erika Kudstra Centre for Student Development Peter Walsh

Purpose of Academic Integrity Office 1.Education 1.Education 2.Prevention 2.Prevention 3.Process cases of academic dishonesty using procedural fairness 3.Process cases of academic dishonesty using procedural fairness

What is Academic Integrity?

“The University states unequivocally that it demands scholarly integrity from all its members. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive to the values of the University; furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to those students who pursue their studies honestly.” Academic Integrity Policy, McMaster University, 2006, Page 2.

Types of Academic Dishonesty Plagiarism Plagiarism Inappropriate collaboration Inappropriate collaboration Cheating on a test or exam Cheating on a test or exam Aiding another student in academic dishonesty Aiding another student in academic dishonesty Stealing, destroying or tampering with another student’s work Stealing, destroying or tampering with another student’s work

Types of Academic Dishonesty Preventing another student from completing an academic task Preventing another student from completing an academic task Misrepresenting academic credentials Misrepresenting academic credentials Submitting false information or false medical note to gain a postponement or advantage Submitting false information or false medical note to gain a postponement or advantage Forging, altering or fabricating any McMaster documents (transcripts, etc.) Forging, altering or fabricating any McMaster documents (transcripts, etc.)

Types of Academic Dishonesty Impersonating another student Impersonating another student Providing a false signature for attendance in a class Providing a false signature for attendance in a class Research misconduct e.g. fabrication or falsification of research data, etc. Research misconduct e.g. fabrication or falsification of research data, etc.

Graduate Student Numbers

Plagiarism: “(To) submit academic work that has been, entirely or in part, copied from or written by another person without proper acknowledgement, or, for which previous credit has been obtained ” Academic Integrity Policy, McMaster University, 2006, Page 6.

When Work is Not Your Own Any idea, concept, fact, phrase, sentence, or piece of data that you did not create uniquely for this assignment Any idea, concept, fact, phrase, sentence, or piece of data that you did not create uniquely for this assignment Need to indicate it was not your idea Need to indicate it was not your idea Needs to be referenced appropriately Needs to be referenced appropriately

When Work is Not Your Own The kind of “source” is irrelevant to academic integrity The kind of “source” is irrelevant to academic integrity Material from the internet, public domain, unpublished documents (yours and others), pictures, graphs, etc., must all be referenced Material from the internet, public domain, unpublished documents (yours and others), pictures, graphs, etc., must all be referenced

When Your Work is Not Unique If you really want to “recycle” a sentence or part of a previous paper, you can, but you MUST reference yourself and the paper If you really want to “recycle” a sentence or part of a previous paper, you can, but you MUST reference yourself and the paper You may want to discuss this with your professor or supervisor first You may want to discuss this with your professor or supervisor first

Referencing Don’t create your own system Don’t create your own system Be consistent in whatever system you use Be consistent in whatever system you use Follow the instructions of the instructor in the course Follow the instructions of the instructor in the course

Plagiarism Exercise

Evaluating Resources Peer-reviewed articles go through an extensive process: Peer-reviewed articles go through an extensive process: Generally written by a PhD Generally written by a PhD Submitted to a journal with high scholarly standards Submitted to a journal with high scholarly standards Reviewed by PhDs in the same field to comment on the value of the article Reviewed by PhDs in the same field to comment on the value of the article Published in the journal once deemed to be at the standards of the journal Published in the journal once deemed to be at the standards of the journal

Evaluating Resources Information on the internet goes through little to no evaluation or quality control Information on the internet goes through little to no evaluation or quality control Wikipedia is open-source, meaning that anyone can contribute to a page and information on pages can change daily Wikipedia is open-source, meaning that anyone can contribute to a page and information on pages can change daily You must determine who the author of a website is to determine the quality of the information on the site You must determine who the author of a website is to determine the quality of the information on the site

Evaluating Resources Internet sites for organizations will always reflect the mission of the organization (it will be from a certain point of view). Internet sites for organizations will always reflect the mission of the organization (it will be from a certain point of view). For example, NASA’s website will reflect NASA’s stated mission: For example, NASA’s website will reflect NASA’s stated mission: “to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research”

Evaluating Resources While the NASA website likely has a better quality of information than what is on Wikipedia, peer-reviewed articles will have the highest quality. While the NASA website likely has a better quality of information than what is on Wikipedia, peer-reviewed articles will have the highest quality. Students must evaluate the resources they use when writing a paper or assignment. Students must evaluate the resources they use when writing a paper or assignment.

Techniques to Avoid Unintentional Plagiarism Don’t cut and paste Don’t cut and paste Separate doing research from writing the paper Separate doing research from writing the paper Keep all your reference/research material and copies of drafts Keep all your reference/research material and copies of drafts 3 column note taking 3 column note taking Avoid procrastination Avoid procrastination

Resources MLA or APA Manuals MLA or APA Manuals RefWorks – found on any McMaster Library homepage RefWorks – found on any McMaster Library homepage Librarians are an excellent resource Librarians are an excellent resource

Resources Academic Integrity Website Academic Integrity Websitewww.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity CSD (Centre for Student Development) CSD (Centre for Student Development) Academic Skills Academic Skills Writing Workshops Writing Workshops ESL (English as a Second Language) ESL (English as a Second Language) csd.mcmaster.ca

Resources x.html x.html x.html x.html n/index.cfm n/index.cfm n/index.cfm n/index.cfm

Role of TA’s