The comparison of factors affecting plagiarism and its committing rate in virtual and on campus students of Isfahan University

Abstract

The present study compares the factors affecting plagiarism and its committing rate in virtual and on campus students of Isfahan University which has been conducted through survey method. The population of the study includes all students studying at Isfahan University which were more than 13281 during academic year of 2012-2013, from which 315 were selected as research samples according to Cochran's sample size formula using a stratified sampling design. Required data were collected through researcher made questionnaire that its reliability was estimated 0.86 and validity was proved by experts. Data analysis were carried out using inferential and descriptive statistical tests, which took advantage of frequency and percentile at descriptive level and one-way between-groups, MANOVA test, independent t sample, and t-test at inferential level. Results indicated that among 11 components, three components: lack of mechanisms for detecting and punishing plagiarists, socio-cultural conditions and religious factors had different impacts on plagiarism in virtual and on campus students and the component of lack of self-efficacy in doing research and writing reports in campus students had the most impact on plagiarism than virtual courses. The findings also indicated that the level of commitment of plagiarism is higher in virtual courses than on campus student courses.

Key words: plagiarism, affecting components, virtual students, on campus students