Embedded Files
ETHICS IN RESEARCH
Ethics are the moral principles that guide individuals' actions and decisions. When applied in research, ethics ensure that the work is conducted with honesty, integrity, objectivity, responsibility, and respect for everyone involved. Ethical principles are like a compass, guiding individuals to make responsible choices and maintain the trustworthiness of their research and writing.
The following are the key ethical principles in research:
Honesty. Researchers must accurately report data, experiments, and findings. No fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation of information is permitted.
Integrity. Researchers must uphold integrity by doing the right thing even when no one is watching. This includes being transparent throughout the research process, acknowledging any potential conflicts of interest, and ensuring that all work remains free from bias.
Objectivity. Researchers must aim for objectivity by presenting information in a neutral and unbiased manner, avoiding personal opinions that could influence interpretations of sources or results.
Respect. Researchers must uphold respect for others by acknowledging their intellectual property and giving proper credit for their work, thereby avoiding plagiarism.
Responsibility. Researchers must consider the societal impact of their research and ensure their findings are used ethically and responsibly.
APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CITATION
The following points are what a young researcher should remember when asked about the proper citation level in any academic work, including research, according to the American Psychological Association Manual of Style, 7th Edition:
Cite influential works. Cite influential works that directly impact the research, including background info, supporting or disputing the thesis, and critical definitions. Only cite works thoroughly read.
Cite primary and secondary sources. Cite primary sources when possible and secondary sources sparingly.
Cite all ideas and facts. Provide documentation for all facts and figures that are not common knowledge, in addition to crediting the ideas of others.
Cite paraphrases and quotations. Both paraphrases and direct quotations require citations.
Cite reprints and adaptations. If you reprint or adapt a table or figure, or reprint a long quotation or commercially copyrighted test item, you may need to seek permission and provide a copyright attribution.
Cite personal communications. Even when sources cannot be retrieved (e.g., personal communications), they still need to be credited in the text.
It is important to remember that a researcher must avoid both undercitation and overcitation. Undercitation can result in plagiarism, while overcitation can be distracting and unnecessary. If the question is how many sources are appropriate, generally, one or two of the most relevant sources for each key point will suffice. Literature reviews usually include a more comprehensive list. In the case of Adamson University - Senior High School Department, it cites a total of 20 foreign and local sources, all of which are no more than 10 years old.
Regarding item 2, some references do not simply classify sources as primary or secondary, as seen in the following video by Grad Coach (2023), which includes a tertiary source. Watch the video to learn more about the differences in these classifications, along with their advantages and disadvantages.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES
Primary sources report original content. They offer direct or firsthand evidence about an event, object, person, or work of art.
original documents (letters, diaries, manuscripts, official documents, maps)
creative works (novels, poems, dramas, musical scores, paintings, and sculptures)
recordings and transcripts (audio and video recordings, interviews, and speeches)
data and research (data from studies and surveys, scientific reports, and published journal articles reporting original research findings)
artifacts (relics, artifacts, clothing, furniture, and tools)
Secondary sources refer to content first reported in another source. They analyze, interpret, or summarize information from primary sources.
publications (textbooks, biographies, magazine, articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries)
analyses and interpretations (journal or magazine articles that interpret or review previous findings)
documentaries (films that analyze events, people, or periods but may contain primary source elements like interviews)
reviews (book reviews, movie reviews, and critical analyses)
websites (while some websites can be primary sources, if they present original data or documents), most are considered secondary sources because they interpret and compile information
ACADEMIC-RELATED MISCONDUCT CONCERNING THE WRITING OF THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
The following are some of the many academic-related misconducts concerning the writing of the review of related literature and studies that young researchers may be committing intentionally or unintentionally:
CONTRACT CHEATING
Contract cheating is a type of academic dishonesty where students ask someone else to do their school work. This can include essays, research papers, exams, and coursework. The third party completes the assignment, and the student then turns it in as their own work. Some people also refer to this practice as ghostwriting, academic outsourcing, surrogate authorship, or third-party authorship.
According to Lancaster and Clarke (2016), contract cheating occurs when students hire someone else to complete their assessed work and then submit it as if they had done it themselves. This includes activities such as hiring a professional to write an essay or asking a friend or family member to complete an assignment. The critical point is that the student submits work that is not their own, which is a form of dishonesty.
Contract cheating hurts the honesty of schools and colleges. It makes degrees and qualifications less trustworthy. It can also harm students in the long run, as they may not acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for their future careers.
Examples of contract cheating include buying essays from essay mills, hiring someone to take an online exam or quiz, paying freelance writers to do assignments, and getting too much help from classmates when teachers do not allow it.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism, as defined by Oxford University (2023), is presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own without proper attribution, a serious academic offense undermining research and scholarship integrity. This includes presenting work or ideas from another source (with or without consent) without full acknowledgment, reusing one's own work without citation, and using material generated wholly or partly by artificial intelligence (AI). Oxford University (2023) emphasizes that plagiarism covers all published and unpublished material in any form (manuscript, print, electronic) and media (computer code, illustrations, graphs, lectures).
Plagiarism denies credit to the original authors of words, ideas, or images and violates ethical standards in scholarship (APA, 2020). Whether deliberate or unintentional, plagiarism disrespects original authors, stifles further research, and unfairly disregards those who complete their own work.
Examples of plagiarism include: (a) copying large portions of a journal article into a research paper without citation; (b) using website information in a report without proper attribution; and (c) submitting a lab report almost identical to one previously submitted without acknowledgment.
The consequences of plagiarism range from rejection and censure for professionals to failing grades, academic probation, or expulsion for students.
CATEGORIES OF PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own, with or without their consent, by including it in your work without proper acknowledgment. It constitutes a serious academic and ethical violation that can result in severe consequences. Plagiarism can take many forms, and understanding these types is essential for avoiding it. We can classify plagiarism based on how much is copied, the intent behind it, and how the source material is used.
By Extent of Copying
This category examines the extent to which the source is used in the plagiarized work.
Complete/ Global Plagiarism. This is the most serious form of plagiarism, where an entire work created by someone else is submitted as one's own. It involves no original work and is a clear act of academic dishonesty.
Direct/ Verbatim Plagiarism. This involves copying parts of someone else's work, like sentences or paragraphs, without using quotation marks or giving credit. It means using their exact words without acknowledging the original author.
Paraphrasing Plagiarism. This happens when someone rephrases another person's ideas without giving them credit. It involves restating what someone else wrote using synonyms and changing the word order, but still failing to acknowledge the original source.
Mosaic/ Patchwork Plagiarism. This type involves copying phrases, passages, and ideas from different sources and combining them to create a new text. It takes pieces of plagiarized content and mixes them with original material, forming a mosaic of sources without proper citation.
By Intent
This category distinguishes between intentional plagiarism and accidental plagiarism.
Intentional Plagiarism. This involves intentionally using someone else's work and passing it off as your own. It includes directly copying, hiring someone to write a paper, or submitting someone else's work knowing it is not original.
Accidental Plagiarism. This happens when someone accidentally fails to cite sources properly. This includes forgetting to add a citation, misquoting a source, or paraphrasing too closely to the original text without giving proper credit.
By Source
This category highlights the source of the plagiarized material.
Self-Plagiarism. This involves reusing one's own previous work without proper citation. It includes submitting a paper written for a previous class for a new assignment without permission.
Source-Based Plagiarism. This happens when someone cites a source inaccurately or uses sources that do not exist. It involves giving false information about a source or inventing a reference to back up a claim.
Secondary Source Plagiarism. This occurs when a writer uses a secondary source but only credits the primary sources mentioned within that secondary source. It involves not crediting all the sources referenced in their work, which can create a misleading impression of the research conducted.
Other Forms
This category covers other less common but still important types of plagiarism.
Collaboration Plagiarism. This happens when several people work together on a project, but only one gets recognized as the author. It is unethical for someone to claim credit for others' work in a collaborative environment.
Aggregated Plagiarism. This involves properly quoting and citing all sources but contains little to no original ideas. The paper is a collection of others' ideas presented as the student's own, without original analysis or insight.
Outline Plagiarism. This is using the same outline as another essay on the same or a similar subject. The theft is not of words but of the structure and organization of ideas.
Bibliography Plagiarism. This involves copying another work's bibliography or works cited list and claiming it as one's own research. The plagiarist has unfairly taken advantage of someone else's hard work in compiling the list of sources.
CONSEQUENCES OF PLAGIARISM AND ACADEMIC-RELATED MISCONDUCT CONCERNING THE WRITING OF THE REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
Plagiarism and academic misconduct have serious consequences for students, researchers, and institutions. These repercussions can significantly impact one's academic path and future career prospects. Here's a detailed look at the possible implications, with examples specific to the Philippines:
Consequences for Students
1.1. Failing Grade. A student caught plagiarizing might get a failing grade on the assignment or even in the course. This can significantly impact their chances for honors or their overall academic standing.
1.2. Suspension or Expulsion. In severe cases, a student may be suspended or expelled from their school. This can have devastating effects on their education and future career prospects.
1.3. Damage to Reputation. Plagiarism can damage a student's reputation both within and outside the school. This may make it more challenging to gain admission to graduate school or secure a job, as employers and schools often verify academic records for plagiarism.
Read this news article:
Student Suspended for Plagiarizing Project at Cebu Tech-Voc School
Consequences for Researchers
2.1. Retraction of Publication. If a researcher is found to have plagiarized their work, their publications may be retracted, meaning the research paper is removed from the scientific literature and seriously harms the researcher’s credibility reputation.
2.2. Loss of Funding. Plagiarism can result in the loss of research funding, as funding agencies often require researchers to uphold high ethical standards standards.
2.3. Damage to Career. Plagiarism can seriously harm a researcher's career, making it hard to get research roles, collaborations, and future funding.
Read this news article:
Scientist leaves Swinburne after journals retract 30 studies over plagiarism claims
Consequences for Institutions
3.1. Damage to Reputation. he institution's reputation, resulting in a loss of public trust and confidence in its academic integrity standards.
3.2. Loss of Funding. Plagiarism can lead to the loss of funding from government agencies or private donors, as these entities often prioritize institutions with strong ethical standards.
3.3. Legal Action. In some cases, plagiarism can result in legal consequences, especially if it involves copyright infringement.
Read this news article:
Ateneo: SC Ruling on plagiarism contradicts 'code of integrity'
TOWARD BECOMING A TRUE ADAMSONIAN
Ethics in Research and the Adamson University Core Values
This lesson primarily focuses on the core values of Search for Excellence and Sustained Integral Development. It also touches upon Social Responsibility, Spirit of St. Vincent de Paul, and Solidarity, though to a lesser extent.
The lesson emphasizes Search for Excellence because it is mainly about maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity in research. By teaching young Vincentian researchers about ethics in research, including honesty, objectivity, and responsibility, and how to avoid academic misconduct like plagiarism and contract cheating, the lesson aims to help them produce research that is higher in quality and more trustworthy. The focus on accurately reporting data, properly acknowledging sources, and making sure findings are used ethically directly supports the pursuit of excellence in academia work.
Furthermore, the lesson promotes Sustained Integral Development by encouraging continuous learning and ethical research practices. Understanding ethical principles and how to avoid plagiarism is presented as a key skill for lifelong learning and intellectual growth. The lesson motivates young Vincentian researchers to build upon existing knowledge ethically, contribute to ongoing dialogue within their fields with integrity, and recognize the importance of responsible research conduct for their future careers. These are all vital aspects of sustained integral development.
The lesson also highlights the Spirit of St. Vincent de Paul. By emphasizing ethical research practices, it encourages researchers to work with compassion and a commitment to serving others. Ethical research protects the rights and well-being of all participants, especially the most vulnerable. Additionally, the lesson promotes Solidarity by creating a collaborative and supportive research environment. Researchers are encouraged to share their knowledge and resources, work together to solve complex problems, and uphold the principles of academic integrity as a community. This spirit of collaboration is essential for advancing knowledge and making a positive impact on society society.
Finally, the lesson addresses Social Responsibility. By teaching young Vincentian researchers to conduct research ethically and avoid plagiarism, it indirectly fosters a sense of responsibility toward society. Ethically conducted research can lead to a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of social issues, which can then guide efforts to solve those problems. For example, understanding the ethical considerations of research findings can help researchers develop more effective and socially responsible solutions solutions.
In summary, the lesson mainly focuses on equipping young Vincentian researchers with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve academic excellence in research and to continuously develop their ethical research capabilities, while also instilling a sense of compassion, collaboration, and social responsibility. The primary emphasis is on improving both individual and collective knowledge and skills in ethical research conduct, guided by the core values of Adamson University.
REFERENCES
Lancaster, T., Clarke, R. (2016). Contract Cheating: The Outsourcing of Assessed Student Work. In: Bretag, T. (eds) Handbook of Academic Integrity. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-098-8_17Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse