Naslov
Attitudes toward plagiarism among pharmacy and medical biochemistry students – cross-sectional survey study

Autori
Pupovac, Vanja ; Bilić-Zulle, Lidija ; Mavrinac, Martina ; Petrovečki, Mladen

Izvornik
Biochemia medica : časopis hrvatskoga društva medicinskih biokemičara (1330-0962) 20(3):307-13 (2010), (3); 307-313

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
plagiarism; academic misconduct; students; questionnaires

Sažetak
Introduction: Plagiarism is one of the most frequent and serious forms of misconduct in academic environment. The cross-sectional survey study was done with aim to explore the attitudes toward plagiarism. Materials and methods: First year students of Faculty of Pharmacy and Medical Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Croatia (N = 146) were anonymously tested using Attitude toward Plagiarism (ATP) questionnaire. The questionnaire is composed of 29 statements on a 5 point Likert scale, (1 – strongly disagree, 2 – disagree, 3 – neither agree nor disagree, 4 – agree and 5 – strongly agree) measuring three attitudinal factors (positive and negative attitude and subjective norms) toward plagiarism. Results were presented as score (mean ± SD) followed by reference range (divided in three equal parts: low, moderate and high score). Score range expends from 12 to 60 (low: 12-28 ; moderate: 29-45 ; high: 46-60) measuring positive attitude toward plagiarism, from 7 to 35 (low: 7-16 ; moderate: 17-26 ; high: 27-35) measuring negative attitude toward plagiarism and from 10 to 50 (low: 10-23 ; moderate: 24-37 ; high: 38-50) measuring subjective norms. Response rate was 99% (N = 144). Results: Results revealed moderate positive attitude (36 ± 7) and subjective norms (32 ± 6) toward plagiarism and moderate to high negative attitude (26 ± 4). Plagiarism is perceived as not very important (63% of students), harmless (59%), justifi ed under special circumstances (42%), and sometimes necessary (35%). Conclusion: Students’ attitudes refl ect insuffi cient level of seriousness and awareness with which plagiarism is perceived. They are lacking knowledge on scientifi c methodology, academic and scientifi c misconduct. Plan and program to educate students about academic integrity and research methodology is required on all educational level.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

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