RCSI Introduction to Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism in Academic Writing 2023/2024 PDF

RCSI Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Coláiste Ríoga na Máinleá in Éirinn Introduction to Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism in Academic Writing Class Foundation Year Medicine and Physioth...

RCSI Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Coláiste Ríoga na Máinleá in Éirinn Introduction to Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism in Academic Writing Class Foundation Year Medicine and Physiotherapy 2023/2024 Course Professionalism in the Health Sciences Code PROF.08 Title Introduction to Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism in Academic Writing Lecturer Bahrain: Kiara Verhagen Dublin: Helen Kelly Date 12th October 2023 Module Learning Outcomes Describe RCSI plagiarism policy Complete the online RCSI plagiarism tutorial Demonstrate the following strategies for avoiding plagiarism (including collaborative writing contexts): note-taking, summarising, paraphrasing, use of direct quotation, in-text citation and referencing per the Vancouver style Activity Learning Outcomes Exhibit appropriate professional behaviors and relationships in all aspects of practice; demonstrating integrity and honesty humility, commitment, compassion, respect, individual responsibility, altruism, cultural sensitivity and maintenance of confidentiality. Fulfil and adhere to the professional and ethical codes, standards of practice, and laws governing practice. BECOMING A DOCTOR INVOLVES FORMING VALUES AND DEVELOPING BEHAVIOURS AND ATTITUDES WHICH FOSTER PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS, PROMOTE PUBLIC TRUST AND ENHANCE PATIENT SAFETY. Medicine is a profession in which a doctor’s knowledge, clinical skills and judgement are put in service for the benefit of human health. This purpose is realized through a partnership between patient and doctor, one based on mutual respect, individual responsibility and appropriate accountability. Medical students and doctors should be committed to the medical profession and society. Each party has a duty to work to strengthen the system of healthcare on which our collective human dignity depends. RCSI Definition of Medical Professionalism THESE COMMITMENTS ASPIRE TO Excellence Professional Identity Formation Leadership Theme of lecture HOW THIS LECTURE RELATES TO ASSESSMENT- In Semester 1 Project 1-Interprofessional Project In Semester 2 Project 2- Professionalism in Practice Project These assessments also include peer assessment, so you will be marking each other on your engagement and teamwork. OBJECTIVES:  One of the key skills you need to acquire in your studies is the ability to construct arguments, including the reproduction of arguments made by others.  This requires that you produce a coherent picture of the arguments of others in your own words.  Where this is done poorly you may face accusations of plagiarism. RCSI will view plagiarism very seriously. RCSI has a plagiarism policy document which you should be very familiar with.  We will cover all the main areas you need to know about in relation to this in today’s lecture What is plagiarism in your opinion? RCSI DEFINITION OF PLAGIARISM 2013: “Whether it is intentional or unintentional plagiarism is deemed to be the unacknowledged inclusion in a student’s work of material derived from the published or unpublished work of another”. The word “work” here includes internet sources, slides, poster presentations, laboratory reports, conversations, conference meetings, etc..as well as printed material that form part of the assessment requirements for a program of study” (p.2) This is an extract from the RCSI Policy on Plagiarism TYPES OF PLAGIARISM:  Word-for-word  Paraphrasing (without acknowledgement)  Copying & pasting  Inaccurate citation  Collusion  Plagiarism of ideas  Common information (not typically considered plagiarism)  Unintended Plagiarism  Plagiarism of Content, media UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS PLAGIARISM, A GENERAL INTRODUCTION Using the work of others without acknowledging your sources of information or inspiration. This includes: Using words more or less exactly as they have been used in articles, lectures, on TV, or anywhere else. Using other people’s ideas without saying whose ideas they are Paraphrasing what you read or hear without stating where it comes from. Note: Even if you change words or sentences that you have “borrowed” or put them in a different order – this is still plagiarism if you do not cite that source Plagiarism is treated very seriously and plagiarised work is usually disqualified  THE CELEBRITY PSYCHIATRIST'S DOWNFALL Dr. Raj Persaud: Prominent UK psychiatrist and media personality Known for books, articles, and TV appearances The Plagiarism: Copied material from several academics' work Plagiarized content appeared in his book and journal articles Included verbatim passages without proper attribution DISCOVERY AND CONSEQUENCES Plagiarism identified by other academics in 2005 General Medical Council (GMC) investigation in 2008 Found guilty of dishonest behavior Suspended from practicing medicine for three months Impact: Damage to professional reputation Resignation from academic positions Public apology and admission of misconduct  LESSONS? Importance of proper attribution in all forms of academic writing Consequences of plagiarism extend beyond academia High-profile status doesn't exempt one from academic integrity REFERENCING & AVOIDING PLAGIARISM IN WRITTEN WORK AT TERTIARY EDUCATION: PART II  ARE THESE STUDENTS GUILTY OF PLAGIARISM OR NOT? WHY/WHY NOT? 1. According to Heuer, “perception is a process of making inferences. Through inferences we construct our own version of reality”. 2. According to Heuer 1, perception is a process of making inferences and through inferences we construct our own version of reality. 3. According to Heuer1, perception is a process of making inferences and it is through doing this that we construct our own version of reality.  HOW CAN WE DO IT CORRECTLY? Examples: Option 1: Direct quotation + correct ref at end of sentence (whichever system you use). * 1. According to Heuer1, “perception is a process of making inferences. Through inferences we construct our own version of reality”. Option 2: Point or idea paraphrased in your own words AND correct ref at end of sentence. 2. Heuer believed that the inferences we make are linked to how we understand the world and that our perception of situations is a reflection of those inferences or cultural/societal/personal boundaries1. *Note: you should use direct quotations only extremely rarely in your work – it is better to quote indirectly (with ref) wherever possible. ENTER QUESTION TEXT... EXAMPLES OF PLAGIARISM (1) Original Source Material: Technology has significantly transformed education at several major turning points in our history. In the broadest sense, the first technology was the primitive modes of communication used by prehistoric people before the development of spoken language. Mime, gestures, grunts, and drawing of figures in the sand with a stick were methods used to communicate -- yes, even to educate. Even without speech, these prehistoric people were able to teach their young how to catch animals for food, what animals to avoid, which vegetation was good to eat and which was poisonous. Source: Frick T. Restructuring education through technology. Bloomington, IN: Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation,1991. Plagiarised version In examining technology, we have to remember that computers are not the first technology people have had to deal with. The first technology was the primitive modes of communication used by prehistoric people before the development of spoken language. PLAGIARIZED VERSION (1) In examining technology, we have to remember that computers are not the first technology people have had to deal with. The first technology was the primitive modes of communication used by prehistoric people before the development of spoken language. Explanation: This example of student written work is plagiarized. The student copied, word-for-word, text from the original source material. No credit was given to the author of the text and quotation marks were not used. Also, the student didn't provide a reference. CORRECT VERSION (1) In examining technology, we have to remember that computers are not the first technology people have had to deal with. Frick1 believes that "... the first technology was the primitive modes of communication used by prehistoric people before the development of spoken language" (p. 10). References: 1. Frick T. Restructuring education through technology. Bloomington, IN: Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation,1991 Explanation: Note in this example that the passage begins with the author and year of the publication. Quotation marks are used to indicate that this passage is a word-for-word citation from the original document. ANOTHER EXAMPLE (2) Original Source Material: Theories differ from philosophies and models of teaching. A philosophy is a value system, whereas a theory seeks to explain real-world events and can be certified through scientific investigation. Models of teaching are approaches to the management of some aspect of classroom instruction and they may not be independent of subject area, grade level, age of the student, or the setting for learning. A characteristic of learning theories is that they address the underlying psychological dynamics of events. Thus, they provide a mechanism for understanding the implications of events related to learning in both formal and informal settings. Source: Gredler ME. Learning and instruction: Theory into practice (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice- Hall, 2001 Plagiarised version Theories and philosophies are different from each other because theories seek to explain real-world events and can be certified through scientific investigation. Learning theories address the underlying psychological dynamics of events, so they provide a mechanism for understanding the implications of events related to learning in both formal and informal settings. PLAGIARISED VERSION (2) Theories and philosophies are different from each other because theories seek to explain real-world events and can be certified through scientific investigation. Learning theories address the underlying psychological dynamics of events, so they provide a mechanism for understanding the implications of events related to learning in both formal and informal settings. Explanation: This example of student written work is plagiarized. The student used several passages from the original work and inserted them into original prose, however this is still an example of word-for-word plagiarism. No credit was given to the author in the text and quotation marks were not used, and also the work was not listed in the references. CORRECT VERSION (2) Theories and philosophies are different from each other because, according to Gredler1: "Theories seek to explain real-world events and can be certified through scientific investigation... A characteristic of learning theories is that they address the underlying psychological dynamics of events. Thus, they provide a mechanism for understanding the implications of events related to learning in both formal and informal settings." (pp. 12-13) References 1. Gredler ME. Learning and instruction: Theory into practice (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-H all, 2001 Explanation: Quotation marks are used to indicate that this passage is a word-for-word quotation and the pages where it was taken from the original document. The original author of the content is cited at the end of the passage and in the reference section as well. REFERENCING References to other sources are useful and beneficial to presenting your argument; don’t be scared of using them. However, be selective. Don’t just cram your work full of citations in a bid to impress the marker that you’ve read a massive amount. Your references should be relevant and provide evidence for and against your argument. For example, you can include a citation to… give a source of information (e.g. tables, statistics, diagrams etc) describe or discuss a theory, model or practice from a particular writer give weight and/or credibility to your argument provide a counter-argument provide quotations or definitions in your essay paraphrase another person’s work, which is not common knowledge. Additionally, the ‘in-text citation’ included in the body of your text is there to DIRECTLY show the reader where the idea and/or quotation is from. STUDENT Q: WHY IS IT BETTER TO MOSTLY PARAPHRASE AND REF THAN USING DIRECT QUOTATIONS THROUGHOUT MY WORK? Answer: The ability to synthesize ideas and references into your written piece smoothly in the form of well referenced paraphrases shows that:  You have read widely and importantly are able to make connections between all the material you have read.  It is therefore considered a much more sophisticated approach to construction arguments  It shows that you have understood the material well (if you can comment & piece it together yourself) Note:  Lots of “direct quotes” throughout a written piece looks clumsy, is too long winded, is unsophisticated, is very impersonal and doesn’t show the reader/teacher that you actually understand the research very well. TIPS: HOW TO WRITE A GOOD PARAPHRASE: There are 3 keys to writing a good paraphrase: Use your own words and your own sentence structure. Avoid paraphrasing sentence by sentence, better to read a chunk of relevant information and paraphrase after reading. Do not change the meaning of the original piece. GOOD NOTE-TAKING IS KEY TO GOOD PARAPHRASING: Here are some tips to good note-taking that will help you avoid plagiarism: Take notes after you read. Look away from the source as you take notes to avoid using the same vocabulary and expressions. You can take notes on your computer or on paper. You can even find electronic sticky notes. Always use more than one source for research. At least three sources is a good rule of thumb. Write what you would say. Later you can add academic language, such as transitional phrases and revise the vocabulary. Try to answer the main "wh" questions without looking at the resource. (who, what, why, when, where) Write down the full details of your source as soon as you take one note about it – CITE WHILE YOU WRITE Also: If you want to use a direct quote, write it down exactly as it appears. In your notes write down the information you need so that you can reference it properly: EXAMPLES OF VANCOUVER STYLE REFERENCING SYSTEM: Vancouver – using a numerical reference system: In-text quotation: E.G: This proves that "the darkest days were still ahead”1. Bibliography at the end: 1. Smith SD, Jones, AD. Organ donation. N Engl J Med. 2001;657:230-5. EXAMPLE OF VANCOUVER Exposure to second hand smoke is an important cause of premature mortality and morbidity,1-3 and children are more vulnerable than adults to the effects on health.3,4 They may have little control over their environment and exposure to second-hand smoke. References / Bibliography (at end of written piece) 1. Hole D. Passive smoking and associated causes of death in adults in Scotland. Edinburgh: NHS Health Scotland, 2004. 2. Jamrozik K. Estimate of deaths attributable to passive smoking among UK adults: database analysis. BMJ 2005; 330:812-5. 3. Patient UK. [webpage] Passive smoking by children and other people. EMIS & PIP [updated 2005; cited 21 Feb 2008] Available from http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/27001049/ 4. Ashley MJ, Ferrence R. Reducing children’s exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in homes: issues and strategies. Tob Control 1998;7:61-5. PLAGIARISM DETECTION RCSI has a licence for Turnitin software Turnitin matches text with sources on the internet and other submitted essays submitted by previous FY students. Used primarily as an educational tool, to assist not to punish FY staff using Turnitin for all written assignments to enable us to detect where students may be struggling with correct referencing or in some cases committing possible plagiarism. Where plagiarism is detected, feedback will be given to the group and in extreme cases, marks will be deducted By following guidelines correctly, plagiarism should not be an issue in your work PLAGIARISM DETECTION CONTINUED Lectures and workshops are designed to assist students to avoid plagiarism If in doubt, stop and ask staff for assistance It is easier to learn how to write well that to attempt to hide plagiarism Turnitin is used in other years in the programme Students do not interact directly with Turnitin, staff handle this. Students should concentrate on writing. CHEATING BEHAVIOURS & AVOIDING CHEATING IN GROUP WORK In pairs- read through the list of cheating behaviours below & put each one into one or more of the following categories; A: An activity which is “only” cheating B: An activity which is cheating by falsifying data C: An activity which is cheating by impersonation D: An activity which is a particular kind of cheating called plagiarism E: An activity which is a particular kind of plagiarism called collusion 1. Allowing your coursework to be copied by another student. 2. Taking unauthorised material into an exam. 3. Fabricating references or a bibliography. 4. Lying about medical or other circumstances to get special consideration. 5. Copying another student’s coursework with their knowledge. 6. Buying coursework online from an essay bank or ghost-writer. 7. Inventing data (for example making up answers to a survey). 8. Not contributing a fair share to group work that is assessed for a group mark. 9. Paraphrasing material from a source without acknowledging the original author. 10. Submitting jointly written coursework as if it was an individual piece of work. QUICK TIPS Remember: When in doubt, cite! Paraphrasing ≠ Changing a few words Your voice should dominate your writing Cite while you write! INTERVIEWS & APPENDICES: If you need to conduct an interview with someone as part of your research or project:  You need to get the interviewees permission to take notes or record the interview for your project  Your undergraduate projects are not projects for publication and will not be in the public domain, so you do not need ethics approval in this case as you might for a real scientific / academic project which you may hope to publish.  You should type up the interview afterwards either in bullet point format or by typing out a full transcript.  This “script” should then become “an appendix” which is added to the end of your project after the bibliography. Appendices are not normally part of the word count for a project  You would also include your interview as a reference in your list of references / bibliography and assign it a number (as with all Vancouver style refs) which you should then use to refer to that interview each time you mention it in the body of your text.  See the Vancouver RCSI example sheet on Moodle for an example of how to reference and interview correctly. REFERENCES Cottrell, S.M. (2003). The study skills handbook. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Cox, K. & Hill, D. (2004). EAP now!. Pearson Longman. Greetham, B. (2001). How to write better essays. Palgrave MacMillian RCSI Plagiarism Policy 2013 https://vle.rcsi.com/pluginfile.php/523202/mod_resource/content/4/SARA%20POL %20P%20008%20Plagiarism%20Policy.pdf Theme of lecture