Perspectives on Plagiarism in Asia: An exploratory comparative study in Indonesia and Sri Lanka

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to elicit responses from postgraduate (PG) students who are also lecturers about their unique experiences and perspectives about plagiarism. The issue of plagiarism is current and one that is far from clear-cut in settings where a second/ foreign language is the medium of instruction. This small scale study sought to explore attitudes of academics toward plagiarism in two Asian countries, that of Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The research tool comprised a two part structured interview schedule which elicited responses regarding each participant‘s views and experiences of plagiarism as both a lecturer and PG student. The sample for the study was limited to five participants from each of the countries. The findings from the study revealed that the two groups of lecturers from different countries shared similar experiences and attitudes about plagiarism. Both groups reported that plagiarism is common and even a habitual practice among undergraduates and PG students. They likewise viewed it as an offence to be addressed. Plagiarism was observed to be a result of a variety of reasons. However, the Indonesian participants felt that student writing being in a foreign language was definitely a factor which needed to be considered before branding their work as plagiarized, while the Sri Lankan participants did not present such responses; rather, they felt that plagiarism took place even in first language writing as well. Interesting views that arose from the study include a questioning of ‗originality‘ and ‗controlling‘ of knowledge. Regarding plagiarism in spoken discourse, responses were ambivalent as it was felt that it could take place unconsciously. The study also found that in both countries that there is no clear or consistent national stance on plagiarism and that there are no real policies in place to educate students about plagiarism or how lecturers should deal with plagiarism.