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.
References
Angelil-Carter, S. (2000). Stolen Language? Plagiarism in Writing. New York: Longman.
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 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.
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
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 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 DOI | Link Google Scholar
Pecorari, D. (2008). Academic Writing and Plagiarism: A Linguistic Analysis. London: Continuum.
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
Link DOI | Link Google Scholar
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 DOI | Link Google Scholar
Shei, C. (2005). Plagiarism, Chinese Learners and Western Conventions. Taiwan Journal of TESOL, 2(1), 97-113.
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 DOI | Link Google Scholar
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.
Fundref
This work has no financial support
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.
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.
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, .
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, .
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, .
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, .
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.
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