Students say they resist plagiarizing online papers because they are afraid of the many consequences that could result.
By Jemma Eriksen
Staff Writer
College students today are just a click away from serious consequences.
At this Christian university, the number of students cheating off the Internet may well be significantly lower than the national average. However, high moral or religious values may not be the reason. Most students admit it is simply due to the fear of getting caught.
A recent study by Rutgers University reports that nearly 40 percent of college students nationwide use the Internet to cheat on papers by calling the words their own. But many students at Pepperdine disagree with these high numbers.
When students were asked about cheating on the Web, many could list quite a few Web sites and even give detailed explanations of each Web site. Ironically though, no one admitted to their own academic dishonesty.
Students were able to describe how to cut and paste paragraphs or even an entire paper, change words around to avoid plagiarism, and even how to buy a paper off the Internet.
Usually papers cost between $20 and $100, depending on the length and number of sources needed. So what prevents students at Pepperdine from cheating off the Web? They claim that it is so easy to get caught and the consequences are so dramatic that it’s not worth it.
“There are too many consequences involved to take the risk (of cheating),” said sophomore Rob Howl. “Professors are a lot more understanding than you think. Many would rather you talk to them and work something out instead of cheating.”
This appeared to be the view of many students. Professors at Pepperdine are in a more intimate setting with their students than most other schools. This gives the students opportunities to explain emergency situations rather than resort to dishonesty, they say.
Some students did express their understanding for the those who choose to cheat.
“Sometimes if it’s the night before, and you haven’t read the book, or done the research, or even know the first thing about your paper, the thought of getting the information off the web and getting your paper in on time seems to override any apprehensions about getting caught,” said a student who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Among those students who did admit to cheating, most claimed they only did it in high school and never brought the temptation to college.
The Rutgers University study surveyed 18,000 anonymous students on 23 campuses. The study found:
• “Thirty-eight percent of the undergraduate students completing the survey indicated they had engaged in one or more instances of cut-and-paste plagiarism using the Internet in the past year — paraphrasing or copying a few sentences of material from the Internet without citing the source. This is a dramatic increase from the 10 percent who acknowledged ‘cut-and-paste’ plagiarism using the Internet in a similar survey conducted only two years ago. As posted on ur.rutgers.edu.
• “Almost half of the students (44 percent) indicated they considered such behavior trivial or not cheating at all, perhaps explaining its widespread occurrence. Similar figures were reported for cut and paste plagiarism from written sources where 40 percent of the students reported engaging in such behavior in the last year.
• “Approximately one-quarter of the 2,175 graduate students participating in the survey also reported engaging in cut-and-paste plagiarism from Internet and written sources.
• “But less than 5 percent of all undergraduate and graduate students indicated they had submitted an assignment in which most or all of the text had simply been downloaded from a term paper mill or Web site.”
The study also mentioned some plagiarism detectors. The most popular among colleges is Turnitin.com.
Pepperdine has site licenses with programs that detect plagiarism by scanning public Web sites for matching material. Though it cannot find material that has been purchased, the program performs a basic search through databases for familiarities.
Even if the software is not used on every paper turned in, the administration said that even the presence of the program acts as a deterrent for students.
It is up to the instructor to take the initiative to either inform their students of the programs or to use them at their discretion.
If a student is caught cheating at Pepperdine, an academic integrity committee handles hearings and appeals for the students. The committee consists of one faculty member per division and a handful of students.
The University ethics code just changed this year to give students consequences that serve as a learning tool rather than just a punishment.
For example, if a student is caught with minor cheating, such as incorrectly citing a source, the student could face either rewriting the paper or taking a lower grade. Depending on the circumstances, such as multiple offenses, consequences can be as severe as suspension or expulsion. This is also a deterrent for students against cheating.
Dr. Don Thompson, former academic dean, estimated that the academic integrity committee oversees between 15-25 cases on academic dishonesty each semester.
Thompson had a few suggestions for students.
“First, it is better to confess to your instructor. Some faculty are understanding,” he said.
“Secondly, plan ahead, then there’s no last-minute crunches. Lastly, don’t think that no one will find out. After you cheat once, it becomes easier the second time.”
Thompson added, “It is ultimately a matter of morality and integrity.”
November 13, 2003