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Plagiarism Prevention and Detection

Investigating Suspected Plagiarism

After detection takes place and evidence is gathered that plagiarism is suspected in a student’s work, academics must follow department and institution procedures. These procedures vary across departments and institutions.

Important Note: The procedures for dealing with suspected plagiarism cases vary among universities. It is important to familiarise yourself with own departmental and/or university procedures for dealing with suspected plagiarism cases.

Summary of procedures

A number of university departments were contacted asking academics to provide a summary of the procedure they follow in their department to deal with suspected plagiarism cases. The following summarises the responses, and provides an indication of the types of activities which are likely to need to be undertaken.

In the event that plagiarism is suspected, the member of staff marking the work would contact the investigating officer (another member of faculty in the department who is the most familiar with the procedures). Evidence is gathered and the level of offence is established at this meeting (i.e. whether the offence is minor or major). Minor offences (such as first time offences or those committed by first year students) may be dealt at departmental level and major offences (such as repeat offences, or those committed by second and third year students) are normally dealt with at university level.

If the offence is minor, the student is notified and an appropriate penalty is imposed, such as a mark of zero for the exercise, or the student may be required to repeat the exercise.

Major offences are reported to the appropriate person at university level and are dealt with as specified in the institution regulations. A panel is gathered whose members will conduct a meeting and come to a decision regarding the case. The student can normally submit a written statement and attend the meeting accompanied by another person, such as a friend, lawyer, or someone from the student union. The panel will examine the evidence and decide whether an offence has taken place and if appropriate impose a penalty. If the student accepts the allegation a penalty is imposed and the case ends there. However, if the student denies the allegation the panel considers whether to confirm or reject the allegation. If the allegation is confirmed a penalty is imposed. The student normally has the right of appeal against the panel’s decision.

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