[AISWorld] request what typ of plagiarism

[Roger Clarke]

At 9:50 +0200 27/2/14, Sam Lubbe wrote:
>If somebody 'hunts' down dissertations, formatting it as required by 
>a journal and add his/her name to that of the supervisor and the 
>student without contributing to the study at all and it is 
>published. The journal will not necessarily know of this practice.
>Is this acceptable or is it a form a plagiarism?

An analysis of the meaning(s) of plagiarism is here:
http://www.rogerclarke.com/SOS/Plag0602.html#Bckgrd
http://www.rogerclarke.com/SOS/Plag0602.html#PAc

 From a strictly legal perspective, the perpetrator has a little wiggle-room.

Applying the elements in the second section above (copy below):
-   it's published
-   it is (or at the very least it includes) someone else's work
-   it's presented as being (at least in part) the product of the
     perpetrator, and
-   it dilutes the credit due to the real originator.
     But it doesn't entirely deny credit because the originator's name
     is there on the document

 From a moral perspective, it's of course an appalling thing to do.

Applying the criteria for assessing seriousness of the act:
http://www.rogerclarke.com/SOS/Plag0602.html#Impl
-   there's strong support for the proposition that it's intentional
-   the nature of the work is at the most serious end of the spectrum
-   there's an express claim of co-origination
-   the quantum of incorporated material is at the most serious end
-   the nature of the attribution is at the less serious end

It would be reasonable to expect any journal editor, Dean, etc. to 
also find it appalling, and to take (measured) steps to address the 
problem.

However, care is needed.  Plagiarists have been known to present 
brazen defences, and even to mount counter-accusations against the 
complainant.

So it would be important to have evidence to support any complaint made.

____________

Analyzing the definitions and usage, I identify several elements of 
the notion of plagiarism:

    1. publication: the presentation of another person's material, 
work, or idea. A pre-condition for plagiarism is that the new work is 
made available to others; personal notes are not at issue;

    2. content: the presentation of another person's material, work, 
or idea. A pre-condition for plagiarism is that some part of the new 
work is derived from someone else's prior or contemporaneous work;

    3. appropriation: the presentation of another person's material, 
work, or idea as one's own. A pre-condition for plagiarism is that 
the claim of originality of contribution is either explicit or 
implied by the manner of presentation; or the presentation may be 
such that the reader is reasonably likely to infer the work to be an 
original contribution; and

    4. lack of credit given: the presentation of another person's 
material, work, or idea as his or her own, without appropriate 
attribution. A pre-condition for plagiarism is that the reader is not 
made aware of the identity of the originator, nor of the location of 
the original contribution.

-- 
Roger Clarke                                 http://www.rogerclarke.com/
			            
Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 2 6288 6916                        http://about.me/roger.clarke
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law            University of N.S.W.
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University