Plagiarisim: A review of why Malaysian students commit the academic dishonour

Abstract

Plagiarism seems to have proliferated and become notoriously comparable to an epidemic in the academia, particularly in IHLs (institutions of higher learning). It is a problem which threatens the very core of academic sanctity, raising questions on the marred honour and integrity in a world generally presumed to be inherently virtuous and trustworthy. Whether plagiarism is committed and condone, consciously or unintentionally, the results are not very much different, with students being the very victims of the academic plague: distorted learning experience and undervalued learning outcomes. In addition, the internet has served as a two-edge sword cutting both ways, providing greater access to information and knowledge yet encouraging, though inevitably sometimes, increasing incidents of minor and major intellectual thefts. The circumstances notwithstanding, there is a need to review the culture of integrity or lack of in universities, where it encompasses the institution and system as a whole, the staff as the moral compass and the students seeking transparency and guidance in the matter. It is imperative to identify why students engage in plagiarism, how the current learning environment may have contributed to the rise in such misconduct, and what can be done to mitigate and circumvent plagiarism before it grows out of hand. A good grasp of the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ can lead to the formulation of effective strategies and solutions, i.e. the ‘whats’. This paper explores the reasons students plagiarize in Malaysian IHLs, particularly the public universities.

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