Test your understanding of plagiarism i
Try to answer the questions below to test your understanding of plagiarism. Please note that the results of this test are not monitored or recorded in any way.
If you have any problems answering these questions then you should read the tutorial.
This test is based on a test designed by Dr Joanna Brewis.
Read the extract below, which is taken from page 96 of Arnold, J., Cooper, C. L. and Robertson, I. (1995), Work Psychology, London: Pitman.
There are a range of problems faced by minorities in the workplace. First, the selection and recruitment process is biased against them in one form or another. Second, they have very few role models in the work environment, who could mentor them and socialize them towards organizational life. Third, they do not get the feedback they need in terms of performance appraisal to guide them through the turbulent waters of their careers.
Imagine that extracts 1-6 below were taken from a range of student essays, all of which have made use of this particular section of the text. Which of these examples represent plagiarism?
Extract 1
There are a range of problems faced by minorities in the workplace. First, the selection and recruitment process is biased against them in one form or another. Second, they have very few role models in the work environment, who could mentor them and socialize them towards organizational life. Third, they do not get the feedback they need in terms of performance appraisal to guide them through the turbulent waters of their careers.
Is this an example of plagiarism?
Yes /
No
You selected Yes
Correct!
You have correctly identified that this extract has been plagiarised.
This represents straightforward plagiarism. The passage from Arnold, Cooper and Robertson has simply been copied out and dumped into the essay, with no quotation marks or in-text reference, so that it is presented as if it were the student's own work instead of ACR's. We always spot this kind of practice because 'chunks' like this stand out from the rest of the discussion as stylistically different from the bits the student has written themselves.
You selected No
Sorry, you are wrong
This represents straightforward plagiarism. The passage from Arnold, Cooper and Robertson has simply been copied out and dumped into the essay, with no quotation marks or in-text reference, so that it is presented as if it were the student's own work instead of ACR's. We always spot this kind of practice because 'chunks' like this stand out from the rest of the discussion as stylistically different from the bits the student has written themselves.
Extract 2
There are a range of difficulties faced by minorities at work. First, the selection and recruitment process is biased against them in some way. Second, they have few role models in the organisational context, who could mentor and socialise them regarding organisational life. Third, they don't get the feedback they need on their performance to guide them through the choppy waters of their careers.
Is this an example of plagiarism?
Yes /
No
You selected Yes
Correct!
You have correctly identified that this extract has been plagiarised.
This is another form of plagiarism. It is unacceptable because the student has only changed words here and there in the original and has not paraphrased properly, therefore the essence and structure of the extract remain the same as in the original version. No in-text citation is given - however, even if one were, this kind of practice is still to be avoided, for it is neither properly paraphrased or quoted.
You should EITHER re-write relevant points from the texts you read in your own words OR quote and make it obvious that you are quoting - and, whichever way you choose, make sure you provide a citation and reference.
You selected No
Sorry - You are wrong
This is another form of plagiarism. It is unacceptable because the student has only changed words here and there in the original and has not paraphrased properly, therefore the essence and structure of the extract remain the same as in the original version. No in-text citation is given - however, even if one were, this kind of practice is still to be avoided, for it is neither properly paraphrased or quoted.
You should EITHER re-write relevant points from the texts you read in your own words OR quote and make it obvious that you are quoting - and, whichever way you choose, make sure you provide a citation and reference.
Extract 3
Arnold et al. suggest that 'There are a range of problems faced by minorities in the workplace. First, the selection and recruitment process in biased against them in one form or another. Second, they have very few role models in the work environment, who could mentor them and socialise them towards organisational life. Third, they do not get the feedback they need in terms of performance appraisal to guide them through the turbulent waters of their careers.'
Is this an example of plagiarism?
Yes /
No
You selected Yes
Sorry - You are wrong
This extract has not been plagiarised, but it is a case of incomplete referencing.
Here the student does acknowledge that ACR's words are not theirs by mentioning the authors and using quotation marks. So it isn't straightforward plagiarism but it is incomplete referencing - just mentioning the authors' names in-text is insufficient.
You selected No
Correct, well done - but this is still problematic
Here the student does acknowledge that ACR's words are not theirs by mentioning the authors and using quotation marks. So it isn't straightforward plagiarism but it is incomplete referencing - just mentioning the authors' names in-text is insufficient.
Extract 4
Arnold et al. (1995: 96) suggest that 'There are a range of problems faced by minorities in the workplace. First, the selection and recruitment process in biased against them in one form or another. Second, they have very few role models in the work environment, who could mentor them and socialise them towards organisational life. Third, they do not get the feedback they need in terms of performance appraisal to guide them through the turbulent waters of their careers.'
Is this an example of plagiarism?
Yes /
No
You selected Yes
Sorry - You are wrong
This extract has not been plagiarised.
If you want to use other people's work in a word-for-word way (known as a direct quotation), this is the only way to do it. The student here has acknowledged that the passage is a quote in-text by using quotation marks and by giving the date of publication and the page number of the relevant text (ACR).
You selected No
Correct!
You have correctly identified that this is not plagiarism
If you want to use other people's work in a word-for-word way (known as a direct quotation), this is the only way to do it. The student here has acknowledged that the passage is a quote in-text by using quotation marks and by giving the date of publication and the page number of the relevant text (ACR).
Extract 5
Minorities of whatever sort are presented with a number of difficulties in the organisational context. For example, performance appraisal often does not meet their needs in terms of providing guidance on career development. The ways in which organisational personnel are selected and recruited are often characterised by racism, sexism, homophobia etc. Finally, the lack of people of colour, women and other members of minorities in senior positions often mean that those lower down the organisation cannot get the mentoring and socialisation they need at work.
Is this an example of plagiarism?
Yes /
No
You selected Yes
Correct!
This is a difficult one to judge because the student has at least taken the time and trouble to rewrite the relevant passage in their own words, which proves that they understand what is being said, and is also more likely to mean that the material is being used in an appropriate way in their essay. However, this is what we refer to as an 'indirect quotation' - and, as such, should be referenced because the ideas are not the student's own.
You selected No
Sorry - You are wrong
This is a difficult one to judge because the student has at least taken the time and trouble to rewrite the relevant passage in their own words, which proves that they understand what is being said, and is also more likely to mean that the material is being used in an appropriate way in their essay. However, this is what we refer to as an 'indirect quotation' - and, as such, should be referenced because the ideas are not the student's own.
Extract 6
Minorities of whatever sort are presented with a number of difficulties in the organisational context. For example, performance appraisal often does not meet their needs in terms of providing guidance on career development. The ways in which organisational personnel are selected and recruited are often characterised by racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. Finally, the lack of people of colour, women and other members of minorities in senior positions often mean that those lower down the organisation cannot get the mentoring and socialisation they need at work (Arnold et al., 1995: 96).
Is this an example of plagiarism?
Yes /
No
You selected Yes
Sorry - You are wrong
This extract has not been plagiarised.
This is not plagiarism, but nor is it the best way to give a reference within the main body of an essay, because it does not clearly state how much of the paragraph is attributable to Arnold et al.
A better alternative might be:
'Arnold et al (1995: 96) argue that minorities of whatever sort are presented with the following three difficulties in the organisational context. Performance appraisal often does not meet their needs in terms of providing guidance on career development. Further, the ways in which organisational personnel are selected and recruited are often characterised by racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. Finally, the lack of people of colour, women and other members of minorities in senior positions often mean that those lower down the organisation cannot get the mentoring and socialisation they need at work.'
You selected No - Correct!
This is not plagiarism, but nor is it the best way to give a reference within the main body of an essay, because it does not clearly state how much of the paragraph is attributable to Arnold et al.
A better alternative might be:
'Arnold et al (1995: 96) argue that minorities of whatever sort are presented with the following three difficulties in the organisational context. Performance appraisal often does not meet their needs in terms of providing guidance on career development. Further, the ways in which organisational personnel are selected and recruited are often characterised by racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. Finally, the lack of people of colour, women and other members of minorities in senior positions often mean that those lower down the organisation cannot get the mentoring and socialisation they need at work.'
