Term Paper Mills Promote Plagiarism

According to an article by Karen Thomas (USA Today) titled "Colleges Clamp Down On Cheaters," the most "pervasive form of cheating among students is cutting and pasting term papers directly from Web sites, including dozens of businesses that sell term papers online [Sounds like the link on Sheila Danzig's Web site]."

I would think that the problem includes not only term papers, but theses and dissertations as well.

Thomas states that Boston University tried in 1998 to shut down 10 term paper mills used by students, however, the suit was dismissed in federal court. In one scenario, 30% of the papers submitted had been plagiarized.

I would be interested to know if any of the less-than-wonderful/degree mill schools check for plagiarism when an assignment is submitted. Of course, I guess its difficult to plagiarize a submitted money order.

Russell

 

A different twist on the same or similar problem: As reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education, there is now a web-based service staffed by grad students who will review and critique drafts of student papers for a fee.

 

And I would think this is a significant hurdle for DL programs, especially those who require no face-to-face contact. When I wrote my dissertation, my comittee had no doubt that I knew what I was talking about and had done the work--why?--because I had met with my advisor for 3 or 4 years, at least once every week or two and discussed the research, progress, ideas I had, methedologies etc. With a research degree requiring no face-to-face it would be a relatively easy thing for someone with some money to hire someone to do the research, answer the e-mails, etc. for him. I would think this is a major factor in why the Australian schools seem to require you to attend the defense in person.......

 

Hmm, a new business idea....for $500,000 I do your research and you get the doctorate (I'd be underbid by a good deal at that rate).


So how long before someone buys a paper from Sheila and tries to hand it in as a MIGS dissertation??? Anyone want to take bets on whether the wistle is blown?

 

If someone had enough money and found willing participants, they could hire a doctoral committee from a RA residential university, pass enough money under the table, and earn the degree without lifting a finger. Anything is possible.

However, solid research degree programs have enough checks and balances built into the program to produce a substantive academic experience, complete with accountability.

Russell

 

I took the time to do a fairly rigorous check for cheating in 3 sections of graduate students (65 total) in a database course I was teaching last term. Students had been assigned to write a short literature review and actually include the articles they cited as attachments.

Eight students failed to cite their sources and received a grade of 0. This came despite extensive coverage in the syllabus (and in class lecture) of the need to use quotation marks and a standardized citation method (such as APA).

Students don't seem to get the message until I fail them on a paper.

Thanks - Andy

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Andy Borchers, DBA
NSU (1996)