My View on Plagiarism

1. INTRODUCTION

Advice on ethical writing, in addition to proper citation and referencing, require that any work because of the authenticity and originality authors give

their own stamp (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). So I will try to discuss the subject of plagiarism from the point of final year students of the Medical Faculty of the University of Sarajevo. Due to the ongoing reform of education at universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the Medical Faculty, and the implementation of the Bologna process, it is expected that very little attention has been given to problems of plagiarism, “copy paste” techniques among students, preventing and sanctioning of the same. For seven years, since I pause for one year, I’m examining essays in many fields of medicine. In fact every subjects of the previous 56, is in its program has mandatory writing of term papers, if not true, then in the form of essays.

2. THE PREVIOUS ARTICLES

What appears as a pattern, as I think and examine some of my previous articles, at least 50, that they were actually real examples to show plagiarism, using copy paste technique, not the accreditation and recognition of authors whose material is used in writing my own, do not resort to quoting the appropriate reference, often using non-credible and unverified Internet sources like Wikipedia which are often themselves have indicated references, merely retyping the text of the book or books trainers course readings, of using outdated literature.

Some of these term papers are still in my possession in electronic form, serve as an example of how not to write essays. When examine most of these works, I realize that the biggest problem, is not recognizing the source of material and unreliable sources. References were guided and quotations do not exist. Most of the work ends with “literature” that contains no more than 5 items, of which half is regularly referred to as the “Internet” with the possible listing of websites, then the list of mandatory book literature and professors books if used. One of the problems is the use of outdated references.

3. SCOPE AND CAUSES OF PROBLEMS AT THE MEDICAL FACULTY IN SARAJEVO

What is worrying is that these works, only mine, there were 50 that used inadequate techniques of writing, and that not once during the seven years of study I was not able to get my work (feel free to call plagiarism) is not accepted by the responsible person, or assistant professors. When you take into account that I have not even seen that one’s work was rejected based on the criteria of academic ethics and good behavior, and all the students were making works on the same or similar manner using the same techniques, honor exceptions if any, and the average number of students in one year is about 80, it roughly means that over 4,000 works during the six-year study, and only one generation of students is accepted.

4000 and more, plagiarized, fabricated papers, using unreliable sources, with no accreditation credible source if-used, sometimes so absurd as to copy pages of a book and binding in the seminar paper.

Excuses are numerous, from the lack of time as the most common, the lack of literature, busy working schedule and preoccupation with practical exercises and exams to complete lack of interest in scientific writing. Student’s excuses may, but they should not be tolerated.

The question is, which are the excuses of the responsible persons for the acceptance of such papers, which are already part of the respectable scientific community, who themselves write scientific papers. One possible reason is the implementation of the Bologna process and general education reform that is underway and likely to leave space for such omissions.

The majority of the people to whom are given the articles are conditions, for students, for the completing of a particular subject. This work was wearing a certain number of points, usually 10 according to the rules of the Bologna process. Papers were mandatory in all cases, and are simply evaluated a number of points that a student would not have got if he/she did not done the work, and could pass the subject without these points.

I think it was a lack of interest of lecturers, disrespect of academic title by students, insufficient salary or even underpaid teaching staff, lack of the motivation among students, professors and teaching assistants, careless and superficial consideration of Bologna education system that is implemented etc. The question is how will the students of Medical Faculty become respectable members of the scientific community with this tradition of unethical and unprofessional academic conduct.

4. SCHOOL “MASIC”

After my at least 50 plagiarisms and generally incorrectly written works, my 51 and 52 are jumping on the nose. But in a positive way. Students of my generation along with me, are welcomed the final year of medicine by a professor with one mission, and that is that students learn to write professional research papers. Proper and ethical writing. This essay is a tribute to professor Izet Masic, and his assistants, for devoted time and education to which were subjected 6th year students of the Medical Faculty of the University of Sarajevo, while they wrote their mandatory essays within the examination in Family Medicine.

My first seminar that is properly written, using modern, credible and recognized literature, using sources such as PubMed, Google Scholar and the like; referencing accreditation and reputable sources that was used in writing, control over the work that was conducted by the assistants, then the professor Masic probably using tools for detecting plagiarism or other modern methods, the paper entitled “Doctors errors”. I am extremely proud of the work and when it is compared with my previous works, I have the impression that compares the work of elementary school pupils with the work of a young author, the scientific community recognized academic rookies. Because it is the goal of all our students, that one day our work will be recognized and appreciated. Arguably, also this work had tiny flaws, not cardinal, because the writing of papers needs long practice.

This seminar essay on plagiarism will be my second, I hope properly made and in accordance with the ethical standards of academic work. With this paper I also had the opportunity to examine and gain insight into the problem of scientific work and plagiarism, which will certainly have a significant impact on my future work in the medical profession, first in writing graduate and master’s thesis.

5. SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS FOR THE STUDENTS

Possible solutions to a problem that is more than evident at the Medical Faculty of the University of Sarajevo, in my opinion could be:

• First, the teaching and training of the lecturers, professors and teaching assistants, those responsible for the acceptance of papers and adequate compensation for their efforts;

• The promotion, advertising and constantly reminding students to the principles of ethical writing and standards of scientific work within the university;

• Continuing education of students, from the first year of study, on proper scientific writing and term papers;

• Establishment of new subjects that will be included in the educational program of the Faculty, which will deal only with the ethics of scientific work, such as the current “scientific research” showed effective except in theorizing;

• The introduction of term papers declared as part of the examination in each subject, without which there is no passing grade and not any papers, but adequately applied both to the ethical standards of academic writing.

• Growing academic tradition of good behavior, not only through education but also monitoring and sanctioning of students;

• Sanctioning students persistent in plagiarism and other forms of unethical behavior in the writing of papers, repetition of the examination, additional essays, suspension and expulsion of the toughest cases from the faculty;

• If possible, create a academic body for acceptance/rejection, inspection, verification, of students work on behalf of all departments, courses and professors. This body should use modern detection techniques for plagiarism (software etc. which again indicates the importance of computer education), an internationally recognized, contemporary methodologies and guideline, etc. Such an authority should be guided by recognized experts in ethical behavior and academic writing, which have desire and absolute mission, like professor Masic. Such authority, board or commission could assist all teachers in their work with students, but would also ensure a high standard of academic integrity and the integrity of student work, students who will one day become prominent members of the scientific community.