Is it bad apples or bad barrels? Undergraduate Medical Students Attitude towards Plagiarism; Transcultural Study

Abstract

Abstract Background Plagiarism is a significant violation of academic integrity since it diminishes the value of original and honest academic work. Plagiarism is becoming increasingly common in medical colleges around the world, posing significant obstacles for educators, faculty, and policymakers in addressing such ethical dilemmas and limiting potential risks and liabilities as well. Aim to explore the attitude of medical students towards plagiarism and identify the underlying factors that may influence plagiarism using a mixed quantitative and qualitative transcultural approach. Methods This two-phase observational mixed-method study utilized a probability-stratified random sample technique to include medical students from two schools, in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The attitude of the students was investigated using The Attitudes Towards Plagiarism (ATP) questionnaire, a validated online self-administered questionnaire. It was distributed electronically to 387 medical students from both schools. Additionally, two focus group sessions were conducted following an inductive approach and underwent thematic analysis. Results A total of 387 medical students completed the questionnaires, 182 participants from Egyptian Medical School and 205 from Saudi Medical School. A majority (73.9%) had not received previous plagiarism training. The category-wise distribution of the study participants in the two medical schools in all components of the ATP scale showed that a vast majority fell in the moderate category. The overall mean (SD) scores were for Egyptian and Saudi Medical Students’ positive attitude (35, 33), negative attitude (23, 22), and subjective norms (31, 30). The thematic analysis of the focus group discussions categorized the student responses under three themes: Understanding Plagiarism, Drivers of Plagiarism, and Proactive Preventive Measures for Plagiarism. Conclusion This study provides an insightful analysis of students' understanding of plagiarism, particularly in the context of academic writing. Key factors identified as contributing to plagiarism include language barriers, poor academic writing skills, the challenging nature of assignments, strict deadlines, and an assessment focus on scores. The study also notes the dual role of technology in this context and underscores the significant impact of cultural influences on students' perceptions of plagiarism.