The multiple faces of plagiarism among higher education students: a case study

Abstract

The sociological view on plagiarism among higher education students has produced in recent decades theoretical and methodological advances that enable to problematize and monitor this old and persistent phenomenon, considering its contemporary aspects. This article, resulting from a research project, systematises some of those advances in order to critically analyse the perceptions about various forms of plagiarism among students in the 2015/2016 academic year at a Portuguese higher education institution, assessing (dis) continuities between various levels of study and controlling for the effect of the variables sex, age, area of study and knowledge of the academic code of conduct in use at that institution. The data under analysis results from a questionnaire survey and demonstrates that students' perceptions of what constitutes plagiarism diverge, especially in relation to some forms of plagiarism, even though they gain incisiveness throughout the academic career. On the other hand, students from different levels of study highlight the role of knowledge and teachers' guidance in preventing this unethical practice. The positive impact of academic socialisation on these perceptions demonstrates the importance of a pedagogy that addresses honesty and intertextual writing, demanded by the students themselves, but often overlooked in the prevention policies and academic curricula of higher education institutions.