TOWARDS THE PROBLEM OF PLAGIARISM IN HIGHER EDUCATION: THE STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The paper discusses the problem of plagiarism in higher education from the standpoint of students’ perception of the phenomenon in question. The empirical data comprise the results of the recent survey conducted among the first-year students of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of Tbilisi State University, of the academic year 2020-2021. The aim of the research is to collect and analyze students’ views concerning the following issues: 1. The main causes of plagiarism in higher education; 2. Favorable circumstances for plagiarism; 3. The role of the teacher in the prevention of plagiarism; 4. The role of positive classroom relationships in the struggle with plagiarism. The study demonstrates that, according to the majority of the respondents, the tendency to plagiarize is primarily a psychological phenomenon. The findings have also shown that the lack of
competence may result in the lack of confidence, which, in turn, is perceived as the main cause of plagiarism in higher education by the students. According to the survey, positive classroom relationships have a direct influence on the level of plagiarism in both, curricular assignments and exams. The findings of the given research were partially presented and discussed at a special regional conference “Honesty, Trust, Unity: Academic Integrity & Education in a Globalized World“, in February, 2021.

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