NEW STUDENT Welcome GUIDE

Research  & Academic Integrity

As you begin working on your degree, it will be important to have a good introduction to the question, "What is research?", as well as avoiding mistakes in academic integrity.


Academic Integrity

A high standard of academic integrity is expected of all Carey Theological College students; any infraction will be treated seriously and may be grounds for dismissal. Academic integrity involves honest and responsible scholarship. Students are expected to submit original work and give credit to other peoples' ideas. Academic dishonesty is acting in a manner to gain unearned academic credit. Examples of academic dishonesty are:

  • Plagiarising by misrepresenting the work of another person (in whole or in part) as a student’s own work or failing to give credit for either wording or ideas that belong to another. (See next section.)

  • Submitting the same material for credit in more than one course (whether the earlier submission was at Carey or another institution).

  • Using unauthorized aids of any sort in examinations, completing work in unauthorized collaboration with others, or the unauthorized recording and use of class lectures are all examples of breaches in academic integrity.

Penalty for a lack of academic integrity may include a failing grade in the assignment, examination or course, depending on the severity of the offense. All students are responsible for knowing and practicing academic integrity.

Plagiarism

A more detailed statement of policy and procedures relating to plagiarism is available from the Office of the Registrar. The most pertinent elements have been replicated here. For more information on academic integrity and plagiarism in the wider UBC context, see also http://learningcommons.ubc.ca/resource-guides/avoid-plagiarism/

Essentially, plagiarism involves giving the impression that the words or ideas used in one’s papers or other submitted materials are one’s own, when in fact they are taken from another source.

Plagiarism takes a variety of forms, and it comes in different degrees of severity which warrant different types of response from the school.

  1. Minor plagiarism occurs when a limited number of words or ideas in a student’s piece of writing directly reflect sources without acknowledging them, while the substance of the piece is the student’s own work. In cases of minor plagiarism, the professor is free to address the issue at his/her own discretion. Usually this involves counseling the student on integrity in research and requiring a resubmission of the paper in acceptable form before a grade is given for the assignment.

  2. Substantial plagiarism occurs when larger blocks of material are reproduced directly or with superficial changes in wording but without acknowledgement: sentences, paragraphs, and larger sections of the document. It also applies to the unacknowledged use of distinctive ideas which are critical to the development of the student’s piece, where those ideas are expressed and arranged reflecting sources that are not recognized. The minimum penalty for substantial plagiarism is the resubmission of the assignment and one full letter grade reduction being given to the offending work. The maximum penalty is an automatic failure of the course. Repeated offences will result in expulsion from the seminary.

  3. Severe plagiarism involves presentation of an entire essay or project as the student’s own work when in fact it was produced by another. Severe plagiarism automatically results in a failing grade for the course. A written reprimand will be given, with a copy kept in the student’s file. A repeated offense will result in expulsion from the seminary.

Where faculty identify clear cases of substantial or severe plagiarism, they will keep written documentation of the offending materials and provide a copy of relevant information to the Office of the Registrar. Records of institutional action and follow-up will also be maintained in the student’s file.

What is Research?
Why Research Matters

How to do Good Research

Research Ethics

All research involving data-gathering from human subjects (through surveys, interviews, etc.) for Carey courses and programs must conform to the current Carey policy on research ethics, which is available from the Registrar’s Office and will be distributed at new student orientation. This is particularly important for the DMin program, but has implications for other students whose research interests may potentially intersect with current Canadian privacy legislation and related academic policies at Carey, UBC, and in the Canadian higher education community.

Further Writing Help