The problem of plagiarism
Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations 29 (2011) 90 –94
Seminar article
The problem of plagiarism
Melissa S. Anderson, Ph.D.a,*, Nicholas H. Steneck, Ph.D.b a b
Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Research Ethics and Integrity Program, Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Abstract
Plagiarism is a form of research misconduct and a serious violation of the norms of science. It is the misrepresentation of another’s ideas or words as one’s own, without proper acknowledgement of the original source. Certain aspects of plagiarism make it less straightforward than this definition suggests. Over the past 30 years, the U.S. Federal Government has developed and refined its policies on misconduct, and Federal agencies, as well as research institutions, have established approaches to responding to allegations and instances of plagiarism.
At present, efforts to avert plagiarism focus on plagiarism-detection software and instructional strategies. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Plagiarism; Research misconduct; Scientific misconduct; Self-plagiarism; Federal definition of plagiarism
Introduction
Researchers’ careers are built on their ideas and their contributions to the research record. It should be no surprise, then, that plagiarism is viewed by the research community as a serious violation of the norms of research. It constitutes tampering with the system by which researchers’ work is recognized and rewarded, and it is a personal affront and act of disrespect to the individual who wrote the original words or expressed the original idea.
Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s words, work, or ideas as one’s own. It has two components: (1) the taking of the words, work, or ideas from a source, and (2) the lack of acknowledgement of the source in the use
Seminar article
The problem of plagiarism
Melissa S. Anderson, Ph.D.a,*, Nicholas H. Steneck, Ph.D.b a b
Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Research Ethics and Integrity Program, Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Abstract
Plagiarism is a form of research misconduct and a serious violation of the norms of science. It is the misrepresentation of another’s ideas or words as one’s own, without proper acknowledgement of the original source. Certain aspects of plagiarism make it less straightforward than this definition suggests. Over the past 30 years, the U.S. Federal Government has developed and refined its policies on misconduct, and Federal agencies, as well as research institutions, have established approaches to responding to allegations and instances of plagiarism.
At present, efforts to avert plagiarism focus on plagiarism-detection software and instructional strategies. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Plagiarism; Research misconduct; Scientific misconduct; Self-plagiarism; Federal definition of plagiarism
Introduction
Researchers’ careers are built on their ideas and their contributions to the research record. It should be no surprise, then, that plagiarism is viewed by the research community as a serious violation of the norms of research. It constitutes tampering with the system by which researchers’ work is recognized and rewarded, and it is a personal affront and act of disrespect to the individual who wrote the original words or expressed the original idea.
Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s words, work, or ideas as one’s own. It has two components: (1) the taking of the words, work, or ideas from a source, and (2) the lack of acknowledgement of the source in the use
Citations: M.S. Anderson, N.H. Steneck / Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations 29 (2011) 90 –94 mation into the scientific system, which is fundamentally