YEUNG, Alice (Student in MSc(LIM)) CHU, Connie CHU, Sam http://citers2012.cite.hku.hk/en/paper_548.htm

1. Explore the Behavior of
Plagiarism at the Secondary
School Level in Hong Kong
Presented by:
YEUNG, Alice H.W.
CHU, Connie B.L.
CHU, Samuel K.W.

2. Agenda
 Background
 Research Methodology
 Research Findings
 Conclusion
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 2

3. Background

4. Research Significance 1
 Students are better to build up their information literacy
skills under the new Diploma of Secondary Education
(DSE)
 avoid plagiarism
Source: Hong Kong Examination Authority (2012). Hong Kong Diploma of
Secondary Education Examination: Information on School-based Assessment 4
Booklet.

5. Research Significance 2
 Insufficient studies focus this issue in Hong Kong
 Findings help design new inquiry project based curriculum
 Enhance students’ knowledge regarding plagiarism
 Design guidelines for students
to avoid plagiarism
Source: The Curriculum Development Council (2002). Basic Education
Curriculum Guide: Building on Strengths.
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 5

6. Research Questions
 To what extent do the secondary school students
understand the behavior of plagiarism
 Why do the students do poorly in avoiding plagiarism?
 What are the secondary school students’ perspectives
on plagiarism?
 What have the teachers done in supporting their
students to avoid plagiarism?
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 6

7. Research
Methodology

8. Research Methodology
 Develop a scale for evaluating the degree of plagiarism
 Conduct plagiarism check
 Evaluate the plagiarism levels of 15 Form 1 student group
projects by an online free plagiarism checker, Small SEO
Tools
 Interview a teacher and 36 students
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 8

9. Development of Plagiarism Assessment
Scale
Standard issued by
American
Psychological
Association
Policies stated by Practices
International employed by
Schools in Hong Higher Schools in
Kong other countries
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 9

10. Policies Stated by International Schools in
Hong Kong
Name of School What They Have Done
Canadian  “Code of Academic Honesty” is provided in the Parents’
International Information Handbook (2011 to 2012), p.23
School of Hong  Examples of academic dishonesty are provided in p.24
Kong  Examples of citation are given in different information
sources
German Swiss  Statement of “Plagiarism” is provided as part of the
International Library Policy
School  Hyperlink http://www.bibme.org/ as guideline for
students to avoid plagiarism
Singapore  Statement of “Academic Honesty” is given in the
International Parents’ Handbook as part of the school code of
School (Hong Kong) conduct, p.1
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 10

11. Plagiarism Assessment Scale
Level Label Description
Level 1 None No plagiarism
 Copy a block of text from the student’s previous work
Level 2 Minor or
 Copy a block of text of less 40 words without any citation
 Copy a block of text of over 40 words without any citation, but
 Give references at the end of the work
Level 3 Moderate
or
 Give references in form of an attachment
Level 4 Serious  Copy a block of text of over 40 words without any citation
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 11

12. Online Plagiarism Check
Small SEO Tools:
http://www.smallseotools.com/plagiarism-checker/
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 12

13. Research
Findings

14. Online Plagiarism Check
Serious None Minor
Moderate
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 14

15. Causes of Plagiarism:
Students’ Perspective
 Why do the students do poorly in avoid plagiarism?
 Most students have insufficient knowledge to identify
which situation is plagiarism
 They have not received any training regarding citation
in their Primary School
 They did not know:
 how to do the citation in a proper way
 how to do rephrasing
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 15

16. Causes of Plagiarism:
Teacher’s Perspective
 Why do the students do poorly in avoid plagiarism?
 Local public school students have less concern on
plagiarism than students in the local international
schools
 Most students have not received any education
regarding “Plagiarism” in Primary School
 “Avoiding plagiarism” is not clearly stated in the
project guideline students paid less attention
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 16

17. Students’ Perspective on Plagiarism
 What are the secondary school students’ perspectives on
plagiarism?
 They can use information freely from the Internet
without any acknowledgement
 They can use their own previous assignment without
any citation
 They would like to learn more about how to avoid
plagiarism
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 17

18. Support from School
 What have the teachers done in support their students to
avoid plagiarism?
 Teachers have provided:
 Clear guideline in doing citation
 Lectures regarding plagiarism and citation
 Online citation engines like
http://www.bibme.org/
 Librarians can provide support to students  arrange
workshops or helpdesk
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 18

19. Guideline Published by Canadian
International School of Hong Kong
Source: http://www.bibme.org/
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 19

20. Recommendati
on

21. Recommendations
 Education is necessary to change students’ perspective in
using information ethically
 “Code of Academic Honesty” is stated clearly in the
student handbook as part of the school policy
 Plagiarism can be avoided by providing appropriate
training  Training in avoiding plagiarism can be
delivered in Primary Schools
 Teachers can provide clear guideline in doing citation 
refer to the practices done by Canadian International
School of Hong Kong
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 21

22. Guideline Published by Canadian
International School of Hong Kong
Source: Canadian International School of Hong Kong (2011). Parents’ Information Handbook
15 June 2012 (2011~2012). CITE Research Symposium 2012 22

23. References

24. References
 American Psychological Association (2009). Foundations of Library and
Information Science (6th edition). Washington: American Psychological
Association.
 Curriculum Development Council, The (2002). Basic Education Curriculum
Guide: Building on Strengths, available from:
http://cd1.edb.hkedcity.net/cd/EN/Content_2909/html/index.html
(access on 1 June 2012)
 Canadian International School of Hong Kong (2011). Parents’ Information
Handbook (2011～2012), available from:
http://www.cdnis.edu.hk/images/stories/pdf/facts/CISPA_Parent_Handb
ook_2011-08-18.pdf (access on 1 June 2012)
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 24

25. References
 German Swiss International School (2011). “Plagiarism /
referencing”, Senior Library, available from:
http://mygsis.gsis.edu.hk/aboutus/facilities/library/senior-library/
(access on 1 June 2012)
 Hong Kong Examination Authority (2011). Hong Kong Diploma of
Secondary Education Examination: Information on School-based
Assessment, available from:
http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/DocLibrary/Media/Leaflets/SBA_pamphlet_E_
web.pdf (access on 1 June 2012)
 Singapore International School (Hong Kong) (2011). Parents’ Information
Handbook (2011～2012), available from:
http://www.singapore.edu.hk/download/Parents_Handbook_PPY_1112.
pdf (access on 1 June 2012)
15 June 2012 CITE Research Symposium 2012 25

26. Questions
&Comments