Juliet Stoltenkamp^*, Martha Kabaka

Show more
Centre for Innovative Educational and Communication Technologies (CIECT), University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
Show less

Abstract: Issues of plagiarism are mutual debates across Higher Education Institutions (HEI). As a result, institutions have employed software detection tools as a measure to deter such unacceptable academic practices. This study explores experiences related to the adoption and implementation of Turnitin (Tii) perspective through a developmental approach at a HEI, namely, the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa, during the period 2010 January to 2013 June . A case study approach was adopted targeting the lecturers, their assistants and Centre for Innovative Educational and Communication Technologies (CIECT) Tii support team members. Qualitative research design was applied. This was in addition to an analysis of data collected from post-Tii training workshop evaluation questionnaires, and random email enquiries and responses between lecturers and the CIECT team on Tii matters. The paper reflects on the slow uptake of Tii by the lecturers, which is worrisome as the students are dependent on their commitment. The support team encourages a developmental, rather than a punitive approach. Students need to be encouraged by their lecturers to submit assignments and subsequently improve on their academic writing according to originality reports retrieved from Tii. The researchers hope that these findings would highlight the importance of the dissemination of an anti-plagiarism document which will enable plagiarism discourse.

Keywords: Turnitin, Developmental Approach, Lecturers, Policy, Marketing

Cite this paper: Stoltenkamp, J. and Kabaka, M. (2014) Turnitin Adoption and Application at a HEI: A Developmental Approach. Creative Education, 5, 1043-1052. doi: 10.4236/ce.2014.512118.

References

[1]   Australian College of Applied Psychology (u.d). Turnitin.
http://www.acap.edu.au/current-students/managing-my-course/assessment-information/
turnitin/.

[2]   Batane, T. (2010). Turning to Turnitin to Fight Plagiarism among University Students. Educational Technology & Society, 13, 1-12.

[3]   Brown, V., Jordan, R., Rubin, N., & Arome, G. (2010). Strengths and Weaknesses of Plagiarism Detection Software. Journal of Literacy and Technology, 11, 110-131.

[4]   Cohen, J. (2010). Using Turnitin as a Formative Writing Tool. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 2.

[5]   Curach, L. (u.d). Turnitin or Turnitoff? Academic Integrity.
http://www.uws.edu.au/__data/assets/powerpoint_doc/0004/58522/Liz_Curach_-_
turnitin_or_turnitoff_presentation.ppt

[6]   Carr, D. F. (2013). Many Higher Ed CIOs Want More IT Resources.
http://www.informationweek.com/government/leadership/many-higher-ed-cios-want-
more-it-resources/d/d-id/1110505

[7]   EQUAL (2006). Learning How to Build Capacity: Successful Examples from Round 1, Equal Asylum Seekers; Capacity Building V3.doc. http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/equal_consolidated/data/document/
etg5-capacity-building.pdf

[8]   Ganesan, H. (2006). Pro: Should Teachers Use Turnitin.com?
http://silverchips.mbhs.edu/story/6923.

[9]   Graham-Mathesona, L., & Starrb, S. (2013). Is It Cheating or Learning the Craft of Writing? Using Turnitin to Help Students Avoid Plagiarism. The Journal for the Association for the Learning Technology (ALT), 21.

[10]   Indiana University (2012). Using Turnitin.Com: A Guide for Instructors. Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning.
http://www.indiana.edu/~turnitin/tii_fall2011.pdf.

[11]   Keller’s, J. J. (u.d). Engaging the Adult Learner.
https://www.jjkellertraining.com/trainingresources/1809/osha

[12]   Lowe, C., Schendel, E., & White, J. (2006). Issues Raised by Use of Turnitin Plagiarism Detection Software.
http://cyberdash.com/plagiarism-detection-software-issues-gvsu

[13]   Mulcahy, S., & Goodacre, C. (2004). Opening Pandora’s Box of Academic Integrity: Using Plagiarism Detection Software. In R. Atkinson, C. McBeath, D. Jonas-Dwyer, & R. Phillips (Eds.), Beyond the Comfort Zone: In Proceedings of the 21st ASCILITE Conference (pp. 688-696). Perth.
http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/perth04/procs/mulcahy.html

[14]   O’Hara, M., Carter , C., & Manasse, G. (2007). Getting It Write: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Student Academic Support.
http://www.plagiarismadvice.org/resources/engaging-students/item/ohara-casestudy

[15]   Penketh, C., & Beaumont, C. (2013). “Turnitin Said It Wasn’t Happy”: Can the Regulatory Discourse of Plagiarism Detection Operate as a Change Artefact for Writing Development? Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 15.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/14703297.2013.796721

[16]   Pickard, J., Howe, R., & Fitzgerald, R. (2010) Embedding UNPAC. In Supporting Academic Integrity: Approaches and Resources for Higher Education (pp. 24-26). York: Higher Education Academy and JISC.
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/documents/academicintegrity/
SupportingAcademicIntegrity_v2.pdf

[17]   Prescott, T. (2012). How Does Using Turnitin in a Formative Way Change Student Attitudes towards Plagiarism? Bellerbys College. http://archive.plagiarismadvice.org/documents/conference2012/
finalpapers/Prescott_fullpaper.pdf

[18]   Rivard, R. (2013). Turning on Turnitin.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/04/16/writing-professors-question-
plagiarism-detection-software.

[19]   Shaw, C. (2012). Use of Turnitin Software Does Not Deter Cheating; Study Finds.
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/418740.article

[20]   Turnitin (2010). A Summary of the Effectiveness of Turnitin.
http://pages.turnitin.com/rs/iparadigms/images/Turnitin_Summary_of_Effectiveness.pdf

[21]   Turnitin (2012). Literature Review; Independently Published Studies on Turnitin Services.
http://pages.turnitin.com/rs/iparadigms/images/Turnitin_Independent_Literature_Review_
hires.pdf

[22]   Turnitin White Paper (2012). The Plagiarism Spectrum; Instructor Insights into the 10 Types of Plagiarism.
http://pages.turnitin.com/rs/iparadigms/images/Turnitin_WhitePaper_PlagiarismSpectrum.
pdf

[23]   University of Oklahoma (u.d). Nine Things You Should Already Know About plagiarisms.
http://integrity.ou.edu/files/nine_things_you_should_know.pdf

[24]   University of the Western Cape (u.d). http://turnitin.uwc.ac.za/

[25]   Vlasits, J. (2006). Con: Should Teachers Use Turnitin.com?
http://silverchips.mbhs.edu/story/6922

[26]   Whitsed, C., & Colbeck, D. (u.d). A Tale of Two Cities: Implementing a Developmental Approach to Academic Integrity in two Australian Universities.
http://www.apcei.catl.uwa.edu.au/procs?f=44844

[27]   Zeman, L. D., Steen, J. A., & Zeman, N. M. (2011). Detection Software in a Graduate Policy Course: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Plagiarism. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 31, 431-441.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08841233.2011.597668