Keywords

Plagiarism, second language, Chinese universities, English language teachers, academic integrity, attitude, knowledge, academic socialization

Abstract

Plagiarism has engendered increasing concern in academia in the past few decades. While previous studies have investigated student plagiarism from various perspectives, how plagiarism is understood and responded to by university teachers, especially those in English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) writing contexts, has been under-researched. As academic insiders and educators of future academics, university teachers play a key role in educating students against plagiarism and upholding academic integrity. Their knowledge of and attitudes toward plagiarism not only have a crucial influence on their students’ perceptions of plagiarism but can also provide insights into how institutions of higher education are tackling the problem. The study reported in this paper aims to address this imbalance in research on plagiarism by focusing on a sample of 108 teachers from 38 Chinese universities. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative data that comprise textual judgments and writing samples, it examines whether EFL teachers in Chinese universities share Anglo-American conceptions of plagiarism, what stance they take on detected cases of plagiarism, and what factors may have influenced their perceptions. Findings from this study problematize the popular, yet over-simplistic, view that Chinese EFL writers are tolerant of plagiarism and point to academic and teaching experience as influences on their perceptions and attitudes concerning plagiarism.

View infography

References

Angelil-Carter, S. (2000). Stolen Language? Plagiarism in Writing. New York: Longman.

Link Google Scholar

Benos, D., Fabres, J., & Farmer, J. (2005). Ethics and Scientific Publication. Advances in Physiology Education, 29(2), 59-74. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/advan.00056.2004

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Bloch, J., & Chi, L. (1995). A Comparison of the Use of Citations in Chinese and English Academic Discourse. In D. Belcher & G. Braine (Eds.), Academic Writing in a Second Language: Essays on Research & Pedagogy (pp. 231-274). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

Link Google Scholar

Borg, E. (2009). Local plagiarism. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 34(4), 415-426. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02602930802075115

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Chandrasegaran, A. (2000). Cultures in Contact in Academic Writing: Students’ Perceptions of Plagiarism. Asian Journal of English Language Teaching, 10, 91-113.

Link Google Scholar

Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Link Google Scholar

Deckert, G. (1993). Perspectives on Plagiarism from ESL Students in Hong Kong. Journal of Second Language Writing, 2(2), 131-148. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/1060-3743(93)90014-T

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Eriksson, E.J., & Sullivan, K.P.H. (2008). Controlling Plagiarism: A Study of Lecturer Attitudes. In T.S. Roberts (Ed.), Student Plagiarism in an Online World: Problems and Solutions (pp. 23-36). Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference.

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Flint, A., Clegg, S., & Macdonald, R. (2006). Exploring Staff Perceptions of Student Plagiarism. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 30(2), 145-156. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03098770600617562

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Flowerdew, J., & Li, Y. (2007). Plagiarism and Second Language Writing in an Electronic Age. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 27, 161-183. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0267190508070086

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Gu, Q., & Brooks, J. (2008). Beyond the Accusation of Plagiarism. System, 36(3), 337-352. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2008.01.004

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Hirvela, A., & Du, Q. (2013). Why am I paraphrasing? Undergraduate ESL Writers’ Engagement with Source-based Academic Writing and Reading. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 12(2), 87-98. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2012.11.005

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Hu, G., & Lei, J. (2012). Investigating Chinese University Students’ Knowledge of and Attitudes toward Plagiarism from an Integrated Perspective. Language Learning, 62(3), 813-850. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9922.2011.00650.x

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Keck, C. (2010). How do University Students Attempt to Avoid Plagiarism? A Grammatical Analysis of Undergraduate Paraphrasing Strategies. Writing & Pedagogy, 2(2), 193-222. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1558/wap.v2i2.193

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Lei, J., & Hu, G. (2014). Chinese ESOL Lecturers’ Stance on Plagiarism: Does Knowledge Matter? ELT Journal, 68(1), 41-51. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/elt/cct061

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Lei, J., & Hu, G. (2015). Chinese University EFL Teachers’ Perceptions of Plagiarism. Higher Education, 70(3), 551-565. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10734-014-9855-5

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Liu, D. (2005). Plagiarism in ESOL Students: Is Cultural Conditioning Truly the Major Culprit? ELT Journal, 59(3), 234-241. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci043

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Macdonald, R., & Carroll, J. (2006). Plagiarism: A Complex Issue Requiring a Holistic Institutional Approach. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 31(2), 233-245. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02602930500262536

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Marshall, S., & Garry, M. (2006). NESB and ESB Students’ Attitudes and Perceptions of Plagiarism. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 2(1), 26-37.

Link Google Scholar

Matalene, C. (1985). Contrastive Rhetoric: An American Writing Teacher in China. College English, 47(8), 789-808. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/376613

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Maxwell, A., Curtis, G.J., & Vardanega, L. (2008). Does Culture Influence Understanding and Perceived Seriousness of Plagiarism. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 4(2), 25-40.

Link Google Scholar

Park, C. (2003). In other (people's) Words: Plagiarism by University Students - Literature and Lessons. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 28(5), 471-488. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02602930301677

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Pecorari, D. (2008). Academic Writing and Plagiarism: A Linguistic Analysis. London: Continuum.

Link Google Scholar

Pecorari, D., & Petric, B. (2014). Plagiarism in Second-language Writing. Language Teaching, 47(3), 269-302. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0261444814000056

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Pecorari, D., & Shaw, P. (2012). Types of Student Intertextuality and Faculty Attitudes. Journal of Second Language Writing, 21(2), 149-164. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.03.006

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Pennycook, A. (1996). Borrowing Others' Words: Text, Ownership, Memory, and Plagiarism. TESOL Quarterly, 30(2), 201-230. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3588141

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Pickard, J. (2006). Staff and Student Attitudes to Plagiarism at University College Northampton. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 31(2), 215-232. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02602930500262528

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Rinnert, C., & Kobayashi, H. (2005). Borrowing Words and Ideas: Insights from Japanese L1 Writers. Journal of Asian Pacific Communication, 15(1), 31-56. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/japc.15.1.05rin

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Roig, M. (2001). Plagiarism and Paraphrasing Criteria of College and University Professors. Ethics & Behavior, 11(3), 307-323. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/S15327019EB1103_8

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Sapp, D.A. (2002). Towards an International and Intercultural Understanding of Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty in Composition: Reflections from the People’s Republic of China. Issues in Writing, 13(1), 58-79.

Link Google Scholar

Scollon, R. (1995). Plagiarism and Ideology: Identity in Intercultural Discourse. Language in Society, 24(1), 1-28. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0047404500018388

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Shei, C. (2005). Plagiarism, Chinese Learners and Western Conventions. Taiwan Journal of TESOL, 2(1), 97-113.

Link Google Scholar

Shi, L. (2004). Textual Borrowing in Second-language Writing. Written Communication, 21(2), 171-200. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0741088303262846.

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Song-Turner, H. (2008). Plagiarism: Academic Dishonesty or ‘Blind Spot’ of Multicultural Education? Australian Universities’ Review, 50(2), 39-50.

Link Google Scholar

Sowden, C. (2005). Plagiarism and the Culture of Multilingual Students in Higher Education abroad. ELT Journal, 59(3), 226-233. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci042

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Sutherland-Smith, W. (2011). Crime and Punishment: An Analysis of University Plagiarism Policies. Semiotica, 187, 127-139. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/semi.2011.067

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Valentine, K. (2006). Plagiarism as Literacy Practice: Recognizing and Rethinking Ethical Binaries. College Composition and Communication, 58(1), 89-109.

Link Google Scholar

Wheeler, G. (2009). Plagiarism in the Japanese Universities: Truly a Cultural Matter? Journal of Second Language Writing, 18(1), 17-29. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2008.09.004

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Yamada, K. (2003). What Prevents ESL/EFL Writers from Avoiding Plagiarism? Analyses of 10 North-American College Websites. System, 31(2), 247-258. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0346-251X(03)00023-X

Link DOI | Link Google Scholar

Fundref

This work has no financial support

Crossmark

Technical information

Received: 29-11-2015

Revised: 14-01-2016

Accepted: 22-02-2016

OnlineFirst: 15-05-2016

Publication date: 01-07-2016

Article revision time: 46 days | Average time revision issue 48: 29 days

Article acceptance time: 85 days | Average time of acceptance issue 48: 73 days

Preprint editing time: 169 days | Average editing time preprint issue 48: 157 days

Article editing time: 214 days | Average editing time issue 48: 202 days

Metrics

Metrics of this article

Views: 29605

Abstract readings: 23155

PDF downloads: 6450

Full metrics of Comunicar 48

Views: 429518

Abstract readings: 306872

PDF downloads: 122646

Cited by

Cites in Web of Science

Gottardello, Debora; Valverde, Mireia; Pamies, Mar. A LITERATURE REVIEW OF THE ROLE OF PROFESSORS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENT PLAGIARISM EDULEARN Proceedings, 2017.

Link Google Scholar

Hu, Guangwei; Sun, Xiaoya. Institutional policies on plagiarism: The case of eight Chinese universities of foreign languages/international studies SYSTEM, 2017.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2017.03.015

Gottardello, Debora; Pamies, Maria Del Mar; Valverde, Mireia; . Professors' perceptions of university students' plagiarism: A literature review BID-TEXTOS UNIVERSITARIS DE BIBLIOTECONOMIA I DOCUMENTACIO, 2017.

https://doi.org/10.1344/BiD2017.39.12

Munoz-Cantero, Jesus-Miguel; Rebollo-Quintela, Nuria; Mosteiro-Garcia, Josefa; Ocampo-Gomez, Camilo-Isaac; . Validation of a questionnaire of attributions to the detection of coincidences in academic work RELIEVE-REVISTA ELECTRONICA DE INVESTIGACION Y EVALUACION EDUCATIVA, 2019.

https://doi.org/10.7203/relieve.25.1.13599

Shang, Hui-Fang. An investigation of plagiarism software use and awareness training on English as a foreign language (EFL) students JOURNAL OF COMPUTING IN HIGHER EDUCATION, 2019.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12528-018-9193-1

Sun, Xiaoya; Hu, Guangwei;. What do academics know and do about plagiarism? An interview study with Chinese university teachers of English ETHICS & BEHAVIOR , 2020.

https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2019.1633922

Hu, Guangwei; Shen, Yunhua;. Chinese university teachers' perceptions and practices regarding plagiarism: knowledge, stance, and intertextual competence ETHICS & BEHAVIOR , 2020.

https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2020.1776616

Espineira-Bellon, E. M.; Mosteiro-Garcia, M. J.; Munoz-Cantero, J. M.;. Academic honesty as a criterion for evaluating the work of university RELIEVE-REVISTA ELECTRONICA DE INVESTIGACION Y EVALUACION EDUCATIVA , 2020.

https://doi.org/10.7203/relieve.26.1.17097

Yang, R; Hu, GW and Lei, J. Understanding Chinese English-major students' intertextual competence and contributing factors ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION, 2022.

https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2022.2102137

Cites in Scopus

Hu, G., Shen, Y. . Chinese university teachers’ perceptions and practices regarding plagiarism: knowledge, stance, and intertextual competence), Ethics and Behavior, .

https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2020.1776616

Hu, G., Sun, X.. Institutional policies on plagiarism: The case of eight Chinese universities of foreign languages/international studies), System, .

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2017.03.015

Gottardello, D., Del Mar Pàmies, M., Valverde, M.. Professors' perceptions of university students' plagiarism: A literature review), BiD, .

Link Google Scholar

Sun, X., Hu, G.. What do academics know, do about plagiarism? An interview study with Chinese university teachers of English), Ethics and Behavior, .

https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2019.1633922

Shang, H.-F.. An investigation of plagiarism software use, awareness training on English as a foreign language (EFL) students), Journal of Computing in Higher Education, .

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12528-018-9193-1

AlSmari, N.A. . An Investigation into plagiarism among Saudi EFL students in writing research projects), Asian ESP Journal, .

Link Google Scholar

Espiñeira-Bellón, E.M., Mosteiro-García, M.J., Muñoz-Cantero, J.M., Porto-Castro, A.M. . Academic honesty as a criterion for evaluating the work of university), RELIEVE - Revista Electronica de Investigacion y Evaluacion Educativa, .

https://doi.org/10.7203/relieve.26.1.17097

Nagi, K., John, V.K. . Plagiarism among Thai students: A study of attitudes and subjective norms), Asian ESP Journal, .

Link Google Scholar

Muñoz-Cantero, J.-M., Rebollo-Quintela, N., Mosteiro-García, J., Ocampo-Gómez, C.-I. . Validation of a questionnaire of attributions to the detection of coincidences in academic work | [Validación del cuestionario de atribuciones para la detección de coincidencias en trabajos académicos]), BiD, .

https://doi.org/10.7203/relieve.25.1.13599

Espiñeira-Bellón, E.-M., Muñoz-Cantero, J.-M., Gerpe-Pérez, E.-M., Castro-Pais, M.-D.. Cyber-plagiarism as digital support for the submission of academic writing), Comunicar, .

https://doi.org/10.3916/C68-2021-10

Yang, R., Hu, G., Lei, J.. Understanding Chinese English-major students’ intertextual competence and contributing factors), Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, .

https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2022.2102137

Cites in Google Scholar

Hu, G., & Sun, X. (2017). Institutional policies on plagiarism: The case of eight Chinese universities of foreign languages/international studies. System, 66, 56-68.

...

Gottardello, D., del Mar Pàmies, M., & Valverde, M. (2017). Percepcions del professorat amb relació al plagi dels estudiants universitaris: revisió de la bibliografia.

http://bid.ub.edu/39/gottardello.htm

Shang, H. F. (2019). An investigation of plagiarism software use and awareness training on English as a foreign language (EFL) students. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 31(1), 105-120.

...

Якуніна, Н. В., Чинюк, А. А., & Руденко, Я. (2016). Основи формування культури академічної доброчесності в бібліотеці.

http://ela.kpi.ua/bitstream/123456789/19732/1/Academ_1_12.pdf

Rebollo-Quintela, N., Espiñeira-Bellón, E. M., & Cantero, J. M. M. (2017). Atribuciones causales en el plagio académico por parte de los estudiantes universitarios. Revista de Estudios e Investigación en Psicología y Educación, 192-196.

http://revistas.udc.es/index.php/reipe/article/view/2453

Rebollo-Quintela, N., Espiñeira-Bellón, E. M., & Muñoz-Cantero, J. M. Atribuciones causales en el plagio académico por parte de los estudiantes universitarios Causal attributions in academic plagiarism by university students.

...

Lopez, G. T. (2018). La Percepción Y El Conocimiento Sobre El Ciberplagio en Los Estudiantes Universitarios De Nuevo Ingreso (Doctoral dissertation, Universidad del Turabo (Puerto Rico)).

...

Muñoz-Cantero, J. M., Rebollo-Quintela, N., Mosteiro-García, J., & Ocampo-Gómez, C. I. (2019). Validación del cuestionario de atribuciones para la detección de coincidencias en trabajos académicos. RELIEVE-Revista Electrónica de Investigación y Evaluación Educativa, 25(1).

https://www.uv.es/RELIEVE/v25n1/RELIEVEv25n1_4.pdf

Rebollo-Quintela, N., Espiñeira-Bellón, E. M., & Muñoz-Cantero, J. M. (2017). Atribuciones causales en el plagio académico por parte de los estudiantes universitarios. Revista de Estudios e Investigación en Psicología y Educación, (6), 192-196.

https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=6348802

Sun, X., & Hu, G. (2019). What do academics know and do about plagiarism? An interview study with Chinese university teachers of English. Ethics & Behavior, 1-21.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10508422.2019.1633922

Руденко, Я., Якуніна, Н. В., & Чинюк, А. А. (2016). Основи формування культури академічної доброчесності в бібліотеці.

https://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/65695

Download

Alternative metrics

How to cite

Hu, G., & Sun, X. (2016). Chinese university EFL teachers’ knowledge of and stance on plagiarism. [Conocimientos y actitudes ante el plagio del profesorado de lengua inglesa en universidades chinas]. Comunicar, 48, 29-37. https://doi.org/10.3916/C48-2016-03

Share

           

Oxbridge Publishing House

4 White House Way

B91 1SE Sollihul United Kingdom

Administration

Editorial office

Creative Commons

This website uses cookies to obtain statistical data on the navigation of its users. If you continue to browse we consider that you accept its use. +info X