PUBLICATION NAME: Psychology Today
DATE OF PUBLICATION: October 16, 2010
SUMMARY: Why do students choose to plagiarize work? I’m sure educators have been asking that question, ever since there has been formal education. According to Shelley Carson, not only is it happening consistently at the college level, but it’s actually increasing. Plagiarism, just in general, is considered to be dishonest morally, and in many cases be illegal, legally. Especially at the College/University level of education, they take plagiarism very seriously, ranging punishments from receiving a failing grade to getting expelled from the school. (I find it worthy to note, that many students that I’ve known through personal experience, have gone through plagiarizing, usually on more than one occasion, so that they can get a good grade, so that they can get into a good college. These people range across the academic scale, that is, smart as well as not so smart people are guilty of this. Its rather ironic that the thing that, at least they think, is helping them get in to a good college, is the thing that might get them kicked out.)
So, if the punishments are so high, why do students do it? Well, Mrs. Carson asked this question to her students, and received a variety of answers. Many of them, she explains, “…tell me that they just got overwhelmed with their coursework and that the capability of reducing their stress by lifting material from an article or essay on the internet was just too tempting.” I think everyone who has ever been a student in the “Internet Age” can offer this excuse, and I must admit, I have been guilty of the ctrl+c ctrl+v once or twice in my life time. Others claim that they have been doing this for their entire academic career, and were never caught before, so why stop, right? Still others believe that there is nothing wrong with plagiarism. She tells us "Everybody does it," is a typical response.” The classic bandwagon effect, it’s okay if others are doing it. Carson states that it is “hard to argue against the "everybody does it" argument.” This is because, truthfully, everybody seems to be doing it, Science Blogs, the President, even William Shakespeare (According to the article).
However, Carson strongly discourages people from plagiarizing work. She states that “stealing” other people’s property decreases motivation to actually be creative and put time and effort in to work. Also, from an author’s perspective, it de-motivates you from wanting to produce anything else, because what’s the point if someone is just going to take credit for your hard work?
Why does this matter? Carson believes “rampant plagiarism will contribute to the "dumbing down" of our culture rather than the rise of a Golden Age…” Which, I can say from personal experience, is happening slowly, but there is definitely evidence of it happening. She suggests to all writers that they credit their sources and that Parents/Educators not turn a blind eye towards plagiarism.
LINKS TO STUDY: N/A
ARTICLE: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/life-art/201010/plagiarism-and-its-effect-creative-work
SUBMITTED BY: Brendan Soper (Not Jack...)
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