THE STRUCTURE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT PLAGIARISM IN PAKISTAN; A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY
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Abstract
Background and Purpose: Plagiarism is considered as one of the universal issues in academia. Different research methods have been used to understand this phenomenon globally. It is not only injurious to scientific community rather it affects the society as a whole. It creates hurdles in scientific knowledge by affecting the creativity and intellectual growth of the people. Despite the strict plagiarism policies implemented by Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Pakistan, the issue of plagiarism still remains common. The present study highlights the structure of undergraduate student plagiarism in higher education of Pakistan.
Methods: It has adopted qualitative phenomenological approach for deeper exploration of a phenomenon, this approach is used to understand the essences of their lived experiences. 16 final year undergraduate students who claim to plagiarize the most were chosen for the study. Their lived experiences and life worlds were captured through in-depth interviews.
Results: Results show that plagiarism is like a vicious cycle which start from the very beginning of an academic life. The main three elements of this cycle; deeply rooted in the system, unintentional plagiarism and silent agreement of teachers are discussed in the paper.
Conclusion: The findings can be useful for the academicians and policy makers to prevent plagiarism in academia around the world.