What is the difference between global and patchwork plagiarism? What type of plagiarism is most common in academic settings? Why?
The correct answer and explanation is :
Global vs. Patchwork Plagiarism:
Global plagiarism refers to the act of copying an entire work or substantial portions of it from a single source, presenting it as your own without proper attribution. This can include copying an entire essay, article, or paper verbatim without making any changes. Essentially, it’s a form of intellectual theft where the plagiarist takes credit for someone else’s full intellectual work.
Patchwork plagiarism, on the other hand, involves piecing together bits and pieces of information from multiple sources and combining them to create a new work, but without properly citing these sources. It often appears as a mishmash of quotes, paraphrases, and ideas, all drawn from different places, but presented in such a way that it seems original. The plagiarist may rephrase or slightly alter the original content but still fails to acknowledge the original sources adequately.
Most Common Type of Plagiarism in Academic Settings:
In academic settings, patchwork plagiarism is the more common form of plagiarism. This is because many students, when struggling to complete assignments, might rely on a mix of sources without properly citing them. They may think that changing a few words or combining several different sources is sufficient to make it their own work, not realizing that this still constitutes plagiarism if proper attribution is not given. Additionally, patchwork plagiarism can sometimes be harder to detect than global plagiarism, especially if the sources are paraphrased well or the student has strategically altered the structure.
Why Patchwork Plagiarism is Common:
The prevalence of patchwork plagiarism in academic settings can be attributed to several factors:
- Pressure to Perform: Students often feel overwhelmed by deadlines and the pressure to produce high-quality work, leading them to cut corners.
- Lack of Understanding: Some students may not fully grasp what constitutes plagiarism or how to cite sources correctly, leading them to inadvertently plagiarize.
- Easy Access to Online Resources: With easy access to vast amounts of information online, students might use bits and pieces of content from different sources without thinking to credit them.
This type of plagiarism is more subtle and often goes unnoticed by both students and instructors, which may contribute to its frequency in academic contexts.