Perspectives of Students and Faculty at Bethlehem University towards Plagiarism: Challenges and Solutions // الانتحال/ السرقة الادبية من وجهة نظر الطلاب والهيئة التدريسية في جامعة بيت لحم: تحديات وحلول

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.13169/bethunivj.35.2018.0091
• Pages: 91-111
• Published date: 01 January 2018
• Date: 01 January 2018
• Author: Imad Abu Dayyeh,Imad Skakiyya

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BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY JOURNAL 35 (2018)BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY JOURNAL 35 (2018)

Perspectives of Students and Faculty at Bethlehem

University towards Plagiarism: Challenges and Solutions

ﻲﻓ ﺔﻴﺴﻳرﺪﺘﻟا ﺔﺌﻴﻬﻟاو بﻼﻄﻟا ﺮﻈﻧ ﺔﻬﺟو ﻦﻣ ﺔﻴﺑدﻻا ﺔﻗﺮﺴﻟا /لﺎﺤﺘﻧﻻا

لﻮﻠﺣو تﺎﻳﺪﺤﺗ :ﻢﺤﻟ ﺖﻴﺑ ﺔﻌﻣﺎﺟ

Imad Abu Dayyeh and Imad Skakiyya

Abstract

This study sought to identify the perspectives of Bethlehem University students and faculty

members on plagiarism in academic writing. Three major aspects of plagiarism were

explored: awareness of the phenomenon, its causes, and possible solutions. This study

was conducted on (727) Bethlehem University freshmen students and (198) full-time and

part-time faculty members during the 2014-15 academic year. Data was collected via two

electronically administered survey questionnaires: one for students and another for teachers.

The results revealed clear differences between the students’ and faculty members’ awareness

of plagiarism and attitudes toward the relationship between the prevalence of plagiarism and

the existence of a policy against plagiarism. The results also showed that most of the faculty

members lack a general awareness of plagiarism. The study further revealed that there was

a clear correlation between plagiarism and the difficulties faced by students in writing in

English and their misunderstanding of plagiarism as well as the lack of research skills among

students. The paper proposes possible practical solutions to address this problem.

Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in the publications of Bethlehem University Journal are not those

of the Journal’s editorial board and staff of the dean of Research at Bethlehem University. The accuracy of the

material and any errors in this publication are the sole responsibility of the respective authors and contributors.

ﺺﺨﻠﻤﻟا

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Introduction

The faculty members at BU often face instances of intentional and unintentional plagiarism

in all kinds of student work from short assignments to long research papers. This practice

constitutes a significant problem on two levels: first, how faculty members can verify that

actual plagiarism has really taken place, and second, what standard measures can be taken

to prevent or minimize plagiarism?

Universities aspire to graduate proficient and competent individuals who can assume the

responsibilities that are inherent with whatever role or position they assume in their local

community or workplace and who can set a good example for their colleagues and future

graduates. To confront the practice of plagiarism on university campuses, a collective action

has to be taken on all levels as suggested by McCabe (2005), “It takes the whole campus

community-students, faculty, and administration to effectively educate a student” (p. 29).

In harmony with this suggestion, Bethlehem University English Catalog 2011, item C states

that, “Academic Honesty is essential to the integrity of the educational process. Any case

of academic dishonesty will be penalized by a failure in the examination, report, etc. or, in

serious and/or repeated cases, a failure in the course” (p.25).

While the above statement makes a strong case for academic integrity, it does not present a

clear policy that delineates plagiarism. In the meantime, most BU teachers tend to be lenient

towards cases of plagiarism, while students appear to be uncertain whether any specific

regulations or policy about this practice actually exist. Such a situation points to a clear

need for a study to investigate the various aspects of plagiarism and at a later stage for BU

Administration to set a clear policy against plagiarism.

The main concern of this study is plagiarism among students and faculty members at

Bethlehem University. Plagiarism is a global issue which affects all aspects of academic