Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Plagiarism by Undergraduate Healthcare Science in Gauteng

Authors

  • Nontembiso Magida University of Pretoria, South Africa
  • Kyla Cross University of Pretoria, South Africa
  • Khanyisa Penelope Baloyi University of Pretoria, South Africa
  • Tatum Skye Mitrovich University of Pretoria, South Africa
  • Lavender Rutendo Muyengwa University of Pretoria, South Africa
  • Perseverence Tendai Mupambirei University of Pretoria, South Africa
  • Marizaan Van der Mescht University of Pretoria, South Africa
  • Marien Graham University of Pretoria, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53761/1.20.6.4

Keywords:

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, School of Healthcare Science, Students, Higher education institution

Abstract

Plagiarism is a growing concern in Healthcare Sciences in the current digital era. Plagiarism threatens institutions’ integrity and academic reputation; therefore, it is essential to understand all contributing factors to eradicate unethical practices effectively. The study aimed to establish the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of plagiarism among Healthcare Science students at a selected higher education institution in Gauteng. A cross-sectional study was used, with a total population of 803 second to fourth-year students from the School of Healthcare Sciences, and 83 students completing the survey. Ethical clearance and approval (617/2021) were obtained from the ethics and research committee of a selected higher educational institution in Gauteng. An adapted Likert scale self-reported questionnaire was sent via a Google form link to the teaching platform with the consent form embedded. The statistical Package for Social Science was used to analyse demographic data descriptively, and Spearman’s rho test determined the correlation between study variables. Most students were female (94.0%) and non-native English speakers (71.1%). The majority (83.1%) of the students reported understanding the instances of plagiarism; however, approximately one-third (36.1%) were unable to identify specific instances correctly. Just over half (56.6%) of the students felt self-plagiarism should not be punishable. The correlation between the knowledge of plagiarism and negative attitudes towards plagiarism was found to be statistically significant (p=0.009). The results demonstrated low practice of plagiarism, possibly due to a lack of self-awareness. Therefore, continuous in-depth education on plagiarism and improved policies should be fostered to promote the integrity of future healthcare professionals.

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Published

2023-08-03

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Plagiarism by Undergraduate Healthcare Science in Gauteng. (2023). Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 20(6). https://doi.org/10.53761/1.20.6.4