Study about Plagiarism and Writing from Sources in the Context of University Writing Centers

Examining Tutors’ Experiences and Beliefs about Plagiarism and Writing from Sources

The purpose of this research is to investigate tutors’ background in and experience with plagiarism and writing from sources during tutoring sessions. The study also hopes to examine tutors’ professional preparation in this area. This survey is completely anonymous and takes about 15-20 minutes to complete.

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints or if you feel you have been harmed by this research please contact the principal co-investigator Erin Jensen, Assistant Director of the University of Utah Writing Center: 801-513-9551. Contact the Institutional Review Board (IRB) if you have questions regarding your rights as a research participant. The University of Utah IRB may be reached by phone at (801) 581-3655 or by e-mail at irb@hsc.utah.edu.

By submitting this survey, you are giving your consent to participate. Thank you so much for your time!

Zuzana Tomas
Associate Director
University of Utah Writing Center

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1. What is your age?

19 or younger

20-24

25-30

30 or older

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2. What is your standing?

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

Graduate student

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3. Are you a native speaker of English?

Yes

If you selected "no", please write down what your native language is:

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4. How many years have you been tutoring?

One year or less

1-2 years

3-4 years

5 or more years

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5. How many years have you taught writing?

One year or less

1-2 years

3-4 years

5 or more years

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6. In your tutoring sessions, how often do you address plagiarism, writing from sources, or other citation related issues?

0% of the time

About 10% of the time

About 25% of the time

About 50% of the time

About 75% of the time

90-100% of the time

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7. Of the source-based papers that you encounter when you tutor, how many do you think …

	0%	About 10%	About 25%	About 50%	About 75%	90-100%
Are almost entirely plagiarized	Are almost entirely plagiarized 0%	Are almost entirely plagiarized About 10%	Are almost entirely plagiarized About 25%	Are almost entirely plagiarized About 50%	Are almost entirely plagiarized About 75%	Are almost entirely plagiarized 90-100%
Include several sentences that have likely been copied without any attribution	Include several sentences that have likely been copied without any attribution 0%	Include several sentences that have likely been copied without any attribution About 10%	Include several sentences that have likely been copied without any attribution About 25%	Include several sentences that have likely been copied without any attribution About 50%	Include several sentences that have likely been copied without any attribution About 75%	Include several sentences that have likely been copied without any attribution 90-100%
Include some directly copied phrases or words, but no extensive, unattributed copying	Include some directly copied phrases or words, but no extensive, unattributed copying 0%	Include some directly copied phrases or words, but no extensive, unattributed copying About 10%	Include some directly copied phrases or words, but no extensive, unattributed copying About 25%	Include some directly copied phrases or words, but no extensive, unattributed copying About 50%	Include some directly copied phrases or words, but no extensive, unattributed copying About 75%	Include some directly copied phrases or words, but no extensive, unattributed copying 90-100%
Avoid plagiarism by using attributed quotations, paraphrases, or summaries, but are not successful because of a lack of integration of sources with the student’s own ideas. (The paper may seem “choppy”.)	Avoid plagiarism by using attributed quotations, paraphrases, or summaries, but are not successful because of a lack of integration of sources with the student’s own ideas. (The paper may seem “choppy”.) 0%	Avoid plagiarism by using attributed quotations, paraphrases, or summaries, but are not successful because of a lack of integration of sources with the student’s own ideas. (The paper may seem “choppy”.) About 10%	Avoid plagiarism by using attributed quotations, paraphrases, or summaries, but are not successful because of a lack of integration of sources with the student’s own ideas. (The paper may seem “choppy”.) About 25%	Avoid plagiarism by using attributed quotations, paraphrases, or summaries, but are not successful because of a lack of integration of sources with the student’s own ideas. (The paper may seem “choppy”.) About 50%	Avoid plagiarism by using attributed quotations, paraphrases, or summaries, but are not successful because of a lack of integration of sources with the student’s own ideas. (The paper may seem “choppy”.) About 75%	Avoid plagiarism by using attributed quotations, paraphrases, or summaries, but are not successful because of a lack of integration of sources with the student’s own ideas. (The paper may seem “choppy”.) 90-100%
Avoid plagiarism and are successful in the integration of sources with the student’s own ideas	Avoid plagiarism and are successful in the integration of sources with the student’s own ideas 0%	Avoid plagiarism and are successful in the integration of sources with the student’s own ideas About 10%	Avoid plagiarism and are successful in the integration of sources with the student’s own ideas About 25%	Avoid plagiarism and are successful in the integration of sources with the student’s own ideas About 50%	Avoid plagiarism and are successful in the integration of sources with the student’s own ideas About 75%	Avoid plagiarism and are successful in the integration of sources with the student’s own ideas 90-100%
Avoid plagiarism with respect to words, but not plagiarism with respect to ideas (i.e., they follow the ideas from original sources too closely with insufficient attribution)	Avoid plagiarism with respect to words, but not plagiarism with respect to ideas (i.e., they follow the ideas from original sources too closely with insufficient attribution) 0%	Avoid plagiarism with respect to words, but not plagiarism with respect to ideas (i.e., they follow the ideas from original sources too closely with insufficient attribution) About 10%	Avoid plagiarism with respect to words, but not plagiarism with respect to ideas (i.e., they follow the ideas from original sources too closely with insufficient attribution) About 25%	Avoid plagiarism with respect to words, but not plagiarism with respect to ideas (i.e., they follow the ideas from original sources too closely with insufficient attribution) About 50%	Avoid plagiarism with respect to words, but not plagiarism with respect to ideas (i.e., they follow the ideas from original sources too closely with insufficient attribution) About 75%	Avoid plagiarism with respect to words, but not plagiarism with respect to ideas (i.e., they follow the ideas from original sources too closely with insufficient attribution) 90-100%

Other (please descibe)

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8. In your opinion, in what percentage of tutored undergraduate students who speak English as their FIRST language are these reasons for plagiarism?

	0%	About 10%	About 25%	About 50%	About 75%	90-100%
Not really understanding what plagiarism is	Not really understanding what plagiarism is 0%	Not really understanding what plagiarism is About 10%	Not really understanding what plagiarism is About 25%	Not really understanding what plagiarism is About 50%	Not really understanding what plagiarism is About 75%	Not really understanding what plagiarism is 90-100%
Not understanding their source readings	Not understanding their source readings 0%	Not understanding their source readings About 10%	Not understanding their source readings About 25%	Not understanding their source readings About 50%	Not understanding their source readings About 75%	Not understanding their source readings 90-100%
Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors	Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors 0%	Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors About 10%	Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors About 25%	Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors About 50%	Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors About 75%	Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors 90-100%
Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing	Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing 0%	Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing About 10%	Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing About 25%	Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing About 50%	Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing About 75%	Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing 90-100%
Not understanding the reasons for using sources	Not understanding the reasons for using sources 0%	Not understanding the reasons for using sources About 10%	Not understanding the reasons for using sources About 25%	Not understanding the reasons for using sources About 50%	Not understanding the reasons for using sources About 75%	Not understanding the reasons for using sources 90-100%
Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources	Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources 0%	Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources About 10%	Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources About 25%	Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources About 50%	Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources About 75%	Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources 90-100%
Difficulty with general writing	Difficulty with general writing 0%	Difficulty with general writing About 10%	Difficulty with general writing About 25%	Difficulty with general writing About 50%	Difficulty with general writing About 75%	Difficulty with general writing 90-100%
Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.)	Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.) 0%	Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.) About 10%	Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.) About 25%	Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.) About 50%	Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.) About 75%	Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.) 90-100%
Bad time management	Bad time management 0%	Bad time management About 10%	Bad time management About 25%	Bad time management About 50%	Bad time management About 75%	Bad time management 90-100%

Other (please specify)

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9. In your opinion, in what percentage of tutored undergraduate students who speak English as their SECOND language are these reasons for plagiarism?

	0%	About 10%	About 25%	About 50%	About 75%	90-100%
Not really understanding what plagiarism is	Not really understanding what plagiarism is 0%	Not really understanding what plagiarism is About 10%	Not really understanding what plagiarism is About 25%	Not really understanding what plagiarism is About 50%	Not really understanding what plagiarism is About 75%	Not really understanding what plagiarism is 90-100%
Not understanding their source readings	Not understanding their source readings 0%	Not understanding their source readings About 10%	Not understanding their source readings About 25%	Not understanding their source readings About 50%	Not understanding their source readings About 75%	Not understanding their source readings 90-100%
Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors	Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors 0%	Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors About 10%	Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors About 25%	Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors About 50%	Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors About 75%	Not knowing how to integrate their ideas with those of other authors 90-100%
Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing	Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing 0%	Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing About 10%	Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing About 25%	Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing About 50%	Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing About 75%	Not knowing the basic rules for paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing 90-100%
Not understanding the reasons for using sources	Not understanding the reasons for using sources 0%	Not understanding the reasons for using sources About 10%	Not understanding the reasons for using sources About 25%	Not understanding the reasons for using sources About 50%	Not understanding the reasons for using sources About 75%	Not understanding the reasons for using sources 90-100%
Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources	Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources 0%	Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources About 10%	Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources About 25%	Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources About 50%	Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources About 75%	Not having sufficient vocabulary to rephrase sources 90-100%
Difficulty with general writing	Difficulty with general writing 0%	Difficulty with general writing About 10%	Difficulty with general writing About 25%	Difficulty with general writing About 50%	Difficulty with general writing About 75%	Difficulty with general writing 90-100%
Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.)	Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.) 0%	Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.) About 10%	Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.) About 25%	Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.) About 50%	Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.) About 75%	Lack of effective strategies (e.g. note taking, organizing information, etc.) 90-100%
Bad time management	Bad time management 0%	Bad time management About 10%	Bad time management About 25%	Bad time management About 50%	Bad time management About 75%	Bad time management 90-100%

Other (please specify)

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10. What are two or three most common questions students ask you about writing from sources/plagiarism/citation?

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11. When you encounter a paper that appears to include plagiarism, how often do you address it?

Always

Often

Sometimes

Never

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12. Describe briefly how you address plagiarism in students’ papers when you notice it during the tutoring session.

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13. If students ask you about how they can improve their writing from sources/citation practices, how likely are you to offer the following advice?

	Very likely	Likely	Not very likely	Very unlikely
Enroll in courses that require writing from sources	Enroll in courses that require writing from sources Very likely	Enroll in courses that require writing from sources Likely	Enroll in courses that require writing from sources Not very likely	Enroll in courses that require writing from sources Very unlikely
Consult a writing textbook or reference book	Consult a writing textbook or reference book Very likely	Consult a writing textbook or reference book Likely	Consult a writing textbook or reference book Not very likely	Consult a writing textbook or reference book Very unlikely
Consult OWL (Online Writing Lab website administered by Purdue University)	Consult OWL (Online Writing Lab website administered by Purdue University) Very likely	Consult OWL (Online Writing Lab website administered by Purdue University) Likely	Consult OWL (Online Writing Lab website administered by Purdue University) Not very likely	Consult OWL (Online Writing Lab website administered by Purdue University) Very unlikely
Consult other websites	Consult other websites Very likely	Consult other websites Likely	Consult other websites Not very likely	Consult other websites Very unlikely
Talk to professors for whose classes you are writing	Talk to professors for whose classes you are writing Very likely	Talk to professors for whose classes you are writing Likely	Talk to professors for whose classes you are writing Not very likely	Talk to professors for whose classes you are writing Very unlikely
Make more appointments in the writing center/lab	Make more appointments in the writing center/lab Very likely	Make more appointments in the writing center/lab Likely	Make more appointments in the writing center/lab Not very likely	Make more appointments in the writing center/lab Very unlikely
Ask friends or classmates to read over your writing	Ask friends or classmates to read over your writing Very likely	Ask friends or classmates to read over your writing Likely	Ask friends or classmates to read over your writing Not very likely	Ask friends or classmates to read over your writing Very unlikely
Read research genres	Read research genres Very likely	Read research genres Likely	Read research genres Not very likely	Read research genres Very unlikely

Other (please specify)

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14. Which of the following constitute plagiarism? Check all that apply.

The whole paper has been copied from another source in a word-by-word fashion

At least one full paragraph has been copied from another source in a word-by-word fashion

A few sentences from another source have been copied in a word-by-word fashion

The paper includes many strings of copied words, but no full sentences have been copied

The paper includes a few words or phrases that have been copied

The paper does not include copied language, but follows the exact arguments and/or sequences of ideas from another source too closely. Even though the writer attributes the original source(s), this attribution does not seem to reflect the large extent of borrowed material.

The paper does not include copied language, but follows the exact arguments and/or sequences of ideas from another source too closely. There is no attribution.

Other (please specify)

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15. Where did you learn the most about how to avoid plagiarism/write from sources effectively?

On my own, when writing different papers

In university writing courses

In university mainstream/major courses

In high school courses

During professional training I received as a tutor

By reading books, websites, etc.on my own

Other

If you selected "Other", please specify

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16. As a university student, how many source-based papers have you produced so far?

1-3

4-6

7 or more

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17. As a university student, how would you evaluate the instruction you have received on effective writing from sources?

Extensive explicit instruction

Some explicit instruction

Very little explicit instruction

No explicit instruction

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18. As a university student, how would you evaluate the feedback you have received on your use of sources?

Extensive feedback

Some feedback

Very little feedback

No feedback

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19. How would you characterize training you have received as a tutor on addressing the issue of plagiarism and effective writing from sources?

Extensive training

Some training

Little training

No training

If you have received training in this area, could you briefly describe it?

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20. Compared to other areas of tutor training (e.g., grammar, coherence, organization), how important is the preparation for dealing with plagiarism/ineffective textual borrowing?

Very important

Important

Not very important

Unimportant

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21. List questions you may have about effective WRITING from sources/plagiarism/citation.

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22. List questions you may have about HELPING STUDENTS with writing from sources/citation/avoiding plagiarism.

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23. OPTIONAL: Is there anything that you would like to add about your experience with writing from sources, plagiarism, or citation? You can reflect on your own experience as an academic writer or on your experience tutoring writing.