Understanding, Perception and Prevalence of Plagiarism among College Freshman Students of De La Salle Lipa, Philippines

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between understanding and prevalence of plagiarism, perceived seriousness and prevalence of plagiarism as well as understanding and perceived seriousness of plagiarism when college freshman students of De La Salle Lipa, Philippines were grouped according to academic disciplines. It was hypothesized in the study that as level of understanding and perceived seriousness of plagiarism increased the tendency to commit it decreased. An adopted self-report questionnaire which contained six scenarios covering the six different types of plagiarism was answered by the respondents. Though with low and negligible correlation, study revealed some trends on relationship between the students' understanding of plagiarism and its degree of seriousness as well as on students' understanding of plagiarism and frequency of its occurrence. Results of the study may be useful for enhancing current academic practices and for revisiting institutional policy on plagiarism.