Systemic disturbances in thesis production processes

Abstract

This paper discusses disturbances in thesis production processes that lead to anomalies in information use such as insufficient referencing and plagiarism in theses made in Finnish universities of applied sciences. We develop discussion concerning systemic dynamics of these anomalies. Four different cases of information use which are the result of vague referencing or plagiarism, and the possible solutions are presented. The librarians’ role on the borderline between traditional intermediary positions and their potential for more interventionist ones are discussed. Librarians can contribute to the thesis production processes in which several cultures of information seeking and use meet and challenge each other. Thesis production and evaluation processes are not homogenous. Instead, elements of machine-like systems as well as those of individuals’ unique being-in-the-world contexts appear together forming colonies of information use practices that can ignore problems in references and information seeking or allow plagiarism.