Dealing with plagiarism in a complex information society
Education, Business and Society: Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues
ISSN: 1753-7983
Article publication date: 24 August 2010
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the modern information society on attitudes and approaches to the prevention of plagiarism and to examine a less punitive, more educative model.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach taken is a literature review of plagiarism in contemporary society followed by a case study of the education department of a tertiary‐level college in the United Arab Emirates.
Findings
The authors advocate a move towards a less punitive, more educative approach which takes into account all the relevant contextual factors. A call is made for a truly institutional response to a shared concern, with comprehensive and appropriate policies and guidelines which focus on prevention, the development of student skills, and the proactive involvement of all relevant stakeholders.
Practical implications
This approach could inform the policies and practices of institutions who wish to systematically deal with plagiarism in other contemporary contexts.
Originality/value
This paper could be of value to policy makers and administrators in tertiary institutions, particularly in English as a second language contexts, who recognise the limitations of traditional approaches to plagiarism and wish to establish more effective practices.
Keywords
Citation
Wheeler, D. and Anderson, D. (2010), "Dealing with plagiarism in a complex information society", Education, Business and Society: Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues, Vol. 3 No. 3, pp. 166-177. https://doi.org/10.1108/17537981011070082
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited