Canadian university students' gendered attitudes toward plagiarism

Authors

Sahar Bokosmaty, University of WollongongFollow
John F. Ehrich, Monash UniversityFollow
Michelle J. Eady, University of WollongongFollow
Kenton Bell, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

116259

Publication Details

Bokosmaty, S., Ehrich, J., Eady, M. J. & Bell, K. (2019). Canadian university students’ gendered attitudes toward plagiarism. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 43 (2), 276-290.

Abstract

Prior research on plagiarism has indicated that men may have a greater predisposition toward academic dishonesty than women. However, little research has been conducted using psychometrically tested instruments to validate such claims. To address this gap, a survey was conducted with 377 undergraduate students at a Canadian university on their attitudes toward plagiarism using a psychometrically validated instrument (the Attitudes Toward Plagiarism Questionnaire - Revised). Using differential item functioning/Rasch analysis, no overall differences in attitudes toward plagiarism based on gender were found. A descriptive analysis of both men and women revealed that while only a concerning minority of students reported engaging in plagiarist behaviours; there was a tendency for students to take a permissive stance on plagiarism. These results are discussed within the wider context of plagiarism research in higher education.