As a student you are part of a global academic community. You are also a member of many other academic communities within your own domain such as project groups, class study groups, assignment discussion groups and others. These might include the community of other students at your institution, or all those people studying the same subject as you.
Acting with integrity can help you to become a more successful learner. Being a student means you will be offered help and support along the way, but it also means you have some responsibilities. These include doing your work honestly and fairly, cooperating with your classmates, and giving your best effort on assignments.
But what do we mean by acting with academic integrity? And what does it mean to you?
Consider the questions below. Select the answers that you think are correct. Use the 'Vote' button to submit your answers and generate a word cloud that will display the most frequent selections of other users. Then consider the feedback. Use 'Next' to proceed to the next question.
Consider the following questions and choose the answers that you think are correct. Then consider the feedback.
Select all the phrases that represent the key academic integrity values. There are eight correct answers.
The correct answers are those values that are directly related to academic integrity, such as honesty, trust, fairness, responsibility, originality, accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct. These values are central to maintaining the ethical standards in academic work and research.
For example, correctly referencing a quotation in your essay and giving credit to the original author shows honesty and respect. This knowledge will form the cornerstone of your academic journey, empowering you to make ethical choices, uphold the integrity of your work and contribute positively to your community.
While intellectual curiosity is a valuable trait, it is not typically considered one of the key academic integrity values. Consistency in academic work may be important for quality, but it is not directly related to the principles of academic integrity. Lack of self-discipline is not a value but rather a characteristic that can impact academic integrity. Subjectivity is not a key academic integrity value; academic integrity is more concerned with objectivity and fairness in assessing and evaluating academic work.
Select all the phrases that you identify as behaviours that may be deemed as breach of academic integrity.
These are all different forms of academic misconduct because they involve actions that go against the principles of academic integrity and ethical behaviour in educational settings. To understand why each of these are considered a form of academic misconduct, see the 'Think about it' pod.
From the following list, choose eight phrases that represent the key academic integrity values.
The correct answers are those values that are directly related to academic integrity, such as honesty, trust, fairness, responsibility, originality, accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct. These values are central to maintaining the ethical standards in academic work and research.
For example, correctly referencing a quotation in your essay and giving credit to the original author shows honesty and respect. This knowledge will form the cornerstone of your academic journey, empowering you to make ethical choices, uphold the integrity of your work and contribute positively to your community.
While intellectual curiosity is a valuable trait, it is not typically considered one of the key academic integrity values. Consistency in academic work may be important for quality, but it is not directly related to the principles of academic integrity. Lack of self-discipline is not a value but rather a characteristic that can impact academic integrity. Subjectivity is not a key academic integrity value; academic integrity is more concerned with objectivity and fairness in assessing and evaluating academic work.
From the following list, choose all the phrases that you identify as behaviours that may be deemed as breach of academic integrity.
These are all different forms of academic misconduct because they involve actions that go against the principles of academic integrity and ethical behaviour in educational settings. To understand why each of these are considered a form of academic misconduct, see the 'Think about it' pod.
Let us look at some definitions of types of breaches of academic integrity. How familiar are you with these? Are there any that you had not heard of before?
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work, ideas, or words as one's own without proper attribution. It undermines the principles of originality and intellectual honesty in academia.
Cheating on exams: Cheating on exams involves dishonesty by using unauthorised materials or receiving assistance during exams. It compromises the fairness and integrity of the assessment process.
Fabricating data: Fabricating data in research or academic work involves creating or altering data to support false conclusions. This undermines the credibility of research and academic findings.
Reference mashup: While not always misconduct, if done without proper citation and attribution, reference mashup can become a form of plagiarism. It is important to give credit to the original sources when integrating information from various references.
Collusion: Collusion involves unauthorised collaboration with others on assignments or assessments. It can lead to unfair advantages and compromises individual learning and evaluation.
Contract cheating: Contract cheating refers to hiring someone else to complete academic work, such as essays or assignments, on one's behalf. It is a form of dishonesty that undermines the educational process.
Falsifying academic credentials: Falsifying academic credentials involves providing false or misleading information about one's educational qualifications. It can lead to unwarranted opportunities and positions.
Impersonating someone in school or your institution: Impersonation involves pretending to be someone else to attend classes or take exams. It is fraudulent and undermines the integrity of the educational system.
Stealing or vandalising academic materials: Stealing or vandalising academic materials, such as textbooks or research materials, disrupts the educational environment and hinders others' access to resources.
Bribery or attempting to influence grades: Attempting to influence grades through bribery or other means is unethical and compromises the fairness of grading and evaluation.
Unauthorised use of technology: Using technology inappropriately or without permission during exams or assignments can give an unfair advantage and is considered a breach of academic integrity.
Double submission of work for multiple courses: Submitting the same work for credit in multiple courses without permission is unethical as it misrepresents the effort put into each course.
Misrepresenting facts: Misrepresenting facts in assignments or research can lead to incorrect conclusions and is a form of academic dishonesty.
Tampering with academic records: Tampering with academic records can lead to inaccurate representations of a student's academic history, which can have consequences in the long term.
Sabotaging others' work: Sabotaging the work of others, such as damaging their projects or research, is unethical and goes against the principles of fair competition in academics.
What does your institution/school's definition look like? Did you find it to be vastly similar or different from what your heard in the videos or read above?
Although there are no universally accepted definitions of academic integrity, the International Center for Academic Integrity describes it is as "academic integrity is a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage. From these values flow principles of behaviour that enable academic communities to translate ideals into action. The Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity describes these core values in detail and provides examples of how to put them into practice on campuses, in classrooms, and in daily life."
Academic integrity is "the expectation that teachers, students, researchers and all members of the academic community act with: honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility." (TEQSA, 2023)
It is the "compliance with ethical and professional principles, standards, practices and a consistent system of values, that serves as guidance for making decisions and taking actions in education, research and scholarship." (Tauginienė et al., 2018).
We usually think of academic integrity as only applying to students. However, academic integrity applies to everyone.
Play the video to watch interviews with staff and students.
Continue on for interviews with staff and students.
Whilst as a student you are expected to show academic integrity as part of an academic community, everyone at the university is responsible – for example:
Academic integrity is not just a process of policing student behaviour to prevent 'cheating'.