Seven Ways to Plagiarize: Handling Real Allegations of Research Misconduct; Case #4: The Background Section

What is this about?

This is the factual scenario of a grant applicant who copied the background section of another professor’s published work without the appropriate referencing and credits.

Why is this important?

Another factual anonymised case added to this illuminating collection of plagiarism types which was inspired by cases that an academic member of University encountered in his role as a research integrity officer.

This particular case highlights the fact that writing of a background section also constitutes intellectual effort (reviewing of available literature and synthesis towards an argument) and should therefore acknowledged and referenced appropriately.

It also provides another example of the possible outcomes of investigation of plagiarism allegations.

For whom is this important?

Academic staffAuthorsDoctoral studentsResearch Ethics CommitteesResearch Integrity Officers

Other information

Good Practices & Misconduct

Plagiarism