1.1.5 Recognise misconduct activity
Try this activity and see if you can distinguish between ethical scholarship and academic misconduct.
For the following seven statements, decide if they are examples of ethical scholarship or academic misconduct.
1. You wanted someone to fix all your mistakes for an assignment you've done for a coursework unit, so you gave it to a friend who corrected spelling, grammar and style for you. You then submitted the work as your own.
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A. It might seem like a good idea but this is actually an example of academic misconduct. Paid or unpaid line-editing of coursework assignments is not permitted by the University. Editorial assistance is only allowed with explicit permission by your Unit Coordinator (that is, as stipulated by your Unit Outline) or of your Supervisor. In such instances, it must be developmental (to help you improve your skills and identify areas for improvement) rather than interventionist (making changes for you).
If you want help with general writing skills, contact the Pathways.B. Correct! This is an example of academic misconduct as paid or unpaid line-editing of coursework assignments is not permitted by the University. Editorial assistance is only allowed with explicit permission by your Unit Coordinator (that is, as stipulated by your Unit Outline) or of your Supervisor. In such instances, it must be developmental (to help you improve your skills and identify areas for improvement) rather than interventionist (making changes for you).
If you want help with general writing skills, contact the Pathways.
2. You have to take a supplementary exam. You know a friend who took the exam a few weeks ago so you decided it would be a good idea to ask your friend what was in the exam to help you study.
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A. No, this is academic misconduct. If you are unsure of what topics will be in an exam, you should clarify with your lecturer or tutor.
If you want help with exam preparation and study skills, contact the Pathways.B. Correct! This is an example of academic misconduct. If you are unsure of what topics will be in an exam, you should clarify with your lecturer or tutor.
If you want help with exam preparation and study skills, contact the Pathways.
3. You are struggling to find journal articles to help you with your research paper so you ask a librarian to help you find some useful sources.
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A. Correct! Asking a librarian to help you find resources is an example of ethical scholarship. It is one of the many services librarians provide.
Find out more about Library Services and how the librarians can help with your research.B. Helping you find resources is one of the many services that librarians offer. Librarians have expertise in locating resources and expect students to ask for help.
Find out more about Library Services and how the librarians can help with your research.
4. You have included just one sentence from a source without referencing it.
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A. It's only one sentence so it's ok right? Actually, no. Even copying one sentence word-for-word and not referencing is academic misconduct. This would be considered plagiarism.
Learn more about referencing in the next module, Research and Referencing Skills.B. Correct! You need to reference anything that is not your own. Even one sentence which is copied word-for-word and not referenced constitutes academic misconduct.
Learn more about referencing in the next module, Research and Referencing Skills.
5. You are writing an assignment on World War I but you don't include any references for the dates that the war started - everybody knows that already, don't they?
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A. Correct! This is common knowledge. You don't need to reference facts that are widely regarded as common knowledge information within your discipline of study.
Learn more about referencing in the next module, Research and Referencing Skills.B. Maybe not everybody but a lot of people do, so even if you have found these in your reading, you don't need to include a reference. It is common knowledge and does not need to be referenced. However, if you are ever unsure, be safe and include the reference.
Learn more about referencing in the next module, Research and Referencing Skills.
6. With your friend's permission, you have used some ideas from your friend's assignment but you have written them in your own words.
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A. Even if you have written the ideas in your own words, the idea doesn't belong to you so you can't present it as your own.
Read the University Policy: Student Academic Integrity.B. Correct! It is not acceptable to use the work of another student, even if they are from another class or from a previous year. In other words, you can't misrepresent anyone else's ideas as your own.
Read the University Policy: Student Academic Integrity.
7. You got great feedback from an assignment last semester and got a high distinction. You realise that most of that assignment will fit perfectly in an assignment this semester, so you include it.
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A. Everyone knows recycling is good - but not when it comes to assignments. This is a form of self-plagiarism. Reusing all, or a large amount, of a previous assignment is a form of academic misconduct.
Read the University Policy: Student Academic Integrity.B. Correct! This is a form of academic misconduct because you can't reuse work from an assignment that you have already handed in.
Read the University Policy: Student Academic Integrity.Well done! You have finished this activity. Proceed to the next section
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