Psychology

Reviewing Academic Integrity: Assessing the Influence of Corrective Measures on Adverse Attitudes and Plagiaristic Behavior

Reviewing Academic Integrity: Assessing the Influence of Corrective Measures on Adverse Attitudes and Plagiaristic Behavior

The results confirm the mediation model, in which academics subjected to corrective actions reported reduced plagiaristic behavior through reduced adverse attitudes.

Authors

Vibhash Kumar, Associate Professor, Jindal Global Business School, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India.

Ashima Verma, Department of Management Studies, J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA, Faridabad, Haryana, India.

Sumat Parkash Aggarwal, Department of Commerce, Ramanujan College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, India.

Summary

The world relies on authentic research that guides legislation, policy formulations, and governmental and corporate actions. Therefore, researchers globally should be aware of academic integrity and publication ethics. This research delved into plagiarism that severely undermines any scientific study. It explores the relationship between adverse attitudes (attitudes that favor plagiarism) and plagiaristic behavior.

We probed deeper into the theories of planned behavior, reasoned action, and ethical theories of rational self-interest, cultural acceptance, and deontology to propose corrective measures as an intervention to reduce adverse attitudes and plagiaristic behavior. Upon empirical testing of the said propositions through two studies (Study 1, n1 = 2609; Study 2, n2 = 2678), we ascertained a significant negative relationship between corrective measures and adverse attitudes and corrective measures and plagiaristic behavior. We also empirically examined the mediating effect of adverse attitudes on the relationship between corrective measures and plagiaristic behavior.

The results confirm the mediation model, in which academics subjected to corrective actions reported reduced plagiaristic behavior through reduced adverse attitudes. The findings further the literature on plagiarism and provide crucial implications for managing plagiaristic behavior among academics. The study also provides specific corrective actions that educational administrators should initiate to ensure academic integrity.

Published in: Journal of Academic Ethics

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