Academic Integrity in Higher Degrees by Research
- Statement of principle
- Academic misconduct in higher degrees by research
- Plagiarism in higher degrees by research
- Use of text comparison software
- Procedures for investigating academic misconduct in research
Statement of principle
A strong research culture will demonstrate:
- honesty and integrity
- respect for human research participants, animals and the environment
- good stewardship of public resources used to conduct research
- appropriate acknowledgment of the role of others in research
- responsible communication of research results.
Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council and Universities Australia Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
The University of South Australia has a responsibility to facilitate and support the highest possible standards of academic integrity and intellectual honesty in research. The University embraces the core values of honesty, integrity, fairness, respect and responsibility in all aspects of its research activity. In pursuing these values, it is expected that all staff and students of the University, and those who are not members of the University but who are conducting research on University premises or are using University facilities, should be aware of and abide by:
- University of South Australia Academic regulations for Higher Degrees by Research, with special attention paid to Appendix 5: Academic integrity in research
- Australian code for the responsible conduct of research
- University of South Australia Guidelines for Responsible Practice in Research
- University of South Australia Intellectual Property, Plagiarism and copyright, and Authorship policies
- Ethics and Safety approvals for the research as necessary
- Code of good practice: Research degrees management and supervision
- Policies, codes and guidelines for Higher Degrees by Research
Failure to act in accordance with the principles of academic integrity can give rise to an allegation of academic misconduct. Misconduct in research may be ground for disciplinary action, and if serious, suspension or expulsion.
Academic misconduct in higher degrees by research
Integrity and honesty are fundamental to the University’s reputation and its standing within the academic and general community. While cases of academic misconduct in research degrees are rare, they are treated with the utmost seriousness when they arise because they damage the University’s reputation. Appendix 5 of the University of South Australia Academic Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research determines that academic misconduct specifically encompasses, but is not limited to, the following:
- presentation or collection of data with respect to laboratory work, field trips or other work that has been copied, falsified or in other ways obtained improperly
- inclusion of material in individual work that has involved significant assistance from another person, where such assistance is not expressly permitted by the other person
- breaches of ethical protocols, including the Australian code for the responsible conduct of research
- plagiarism (see below)
- falsification or misrepresentation of application information or academic records (also known as fraud)
- breaches of the examination procedures specified in sections 14 and 15 of the Academic Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research
- other actions not covered by the above clauses that may be judged to be acts of academic misconduct.
Plagiarism in higher degrees by research
Plagiarism is a specific form and serious act of academic misconduct. Whether inadvertent or deliberate, Appendix 5 of the University of South Australia Academic Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research determines that plagiarism includes:
- direct copying of the work or data of other persons, from one or more sources, without clearly indicating the origin. This includes both paper-based and electronic sources of material from websites, books, articles, unpublished work such as theses, working papers, seminar and conference papers, internal reports, lecture notes or tapes, and visual materials such as photographs, drawings and designs
- using very close paraphrasing of sentences or whole clauses without due acknowledgement in the form of reference to the original work
- submitting another student’s work in whole or in part
- use of another person’s ideas, work or research data without acknowledgement
- submitting work that has been written by someone else on the student’s behalf
- copying computer files, algorithms or computer code without clearly indicating their origin; g. submitting work that has been derived, in whole or in part, from another student’s work by a process of mechanical information (eg changing variable names in computer programs); or
- in any way appropriating or imitating another’s ideas and manner of expressing them where such assistance is not expressly permitted.
Use of text comparison software
As part of the University’s procedures for identifying instances of academic misconduct, any work that is submitted by a higher degree by research student may be subjected to testing using text comparison software. It is a condition of enrolment in a research degree program that higher degree by research students gives their consent to this process.
As part of the Statement of Agreement with the supervisor, the higher degree by research student is required to sign the following statement appearing within the Agreement
The HDR student authorises any written material submitted to
be tested by the University for plagiarism, using text comparison
software. This involves the University or its contractor copying
work submitted by the HDR student and storing it on a database to be
used in future to test work submitted by others
.
Use of text comparison software, Appendix 5: Academic integrity in research [1.3b]
In addition, the Supervisor is required to verify the academic integrity of the thesis.
Procedures for investigating academic misconduct in research
If a research degree candidate of the University is suspected of academic misconduct, the matter will be investigated through a series of levels of inquiry. The levels of inquiry will depend on each individual case and will only progress to the next level where further action is deemed necessary.
- Initial Inquiry (PDF 22.82kb - download Adobe Acrobat)
- Formal Inquiry (PDF 23.07kb - download Adobe Acrobat)
- Appeals Process (PDF 19.73kb - download Adobe Acrobat)
Clicking on each separate link will enable access to a flowchart. The flowchart outlines the procedures for investigating cases of alleged misconduct at a particular level. The flowchart reproduces the ‘Procedures in cases of alleged academic misconduct’ outlined in Appendix 5: Academic Integrity in Research.
For research degree students, academic integrity matters are initially dealt with by Research Degree Coordinators. If a case goes to formal inquiry, academic integrity matters are dealt with by Deans of Research in collaboration with the Dean of Graduate Studies.