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A Close Encounter with Ghost-Writers: An Initial Exploration Study on Background, Strategies and Attitudes of Independent Essay Providers

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Title: A Close Encounter with Ghost-Writers: An Initial Exploration Study on Background, Strategies and Attitudes of Independent Essay Providers
Language: English
Authors: Sivasubramaniam, Shiva (ORCID 0000-0001-7014-5000), Kostelidou, Kalliopi, Ramachandran, Sharavan
Source: International Journal for Educational Integrity. 2016 12.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2016
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Descriptors: Plagiarism, Cheating, Essays, Research Papers (Students), Authors, Attitudes, Developing Nations, Social Media, Computer Software, Incidence, Prevention, Deception, Graduate Students, Reliability, Costs, Global Approach, Qualitative Research, Interviews
DOI: 10.1007/s40979-016-0007-9
ISSN: 1833-2595
Abstract: Academic dishonesty presents in different forms, including fabrication of data, falsifying references, multiple submissions, collusion, and sabotage, with two forms haunting academia, namely plagiarism and contract cheating or ghost writing. These latter forms have received considerable attention and have been subjects for research. This interview-based study provides some further insight into the problem of ghost writing through presenting the attitudes, justifications and networking practices of some hired 'ghost-writers' from a developing country and discusses the depth of this emerging threat to the academic community. Initially, through simple internet searches using specific keywords, an array of professional advertisements selling contract writing services were identified. Some of these promotional advertisements were found in Facebook® posts, and/or Twitter® feeds. The second part of this study presents a summary of findings from interviews of a group of ghost-writers including their background, attitude and justifications for setting up this new business. The study identifies several high calibre post-graduates who have come to understand the Western (European/North American/Australian) ways of scientific writing and have produced a network of 'consultancy' services. Although the birth of their business was ad-hoc, they have established a good network and are now able to share projects and practices. Many of them offer services to home and foreign students with varied levels of customer focus. Some of them are even using Turnitin© software to identify text matching issues. This study suggests that these paper mills have widely been subscribed to by students. The article finally discusses wider issues arising from these interviews and proposes some ways of tackling this new threat to academia.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 18
Entry Date: 2018
Accession Number: EJ1180636
Database: ERIC
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  Data: A Close Encounter with Ghost-Writers: An Initial Exploration Study on Background, Strategies and Attitudes of Independent Essay Providers
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  Data: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
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  Data: 10.1007/s40979-016-0007-9
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  Data: Academic dishonesty presents in different forms, including fabrication of data, falsifying references, multiple submissions, collusion, and sabotage, with two forms haunting academia, namely plagiarism and contract cheating or ghost writing. These latter forms have received considerable attention and have been subjects for research. This interview-based study provides some further insight into the problem of ghost writing through presenting the attitudes, justifications and networking practices of some hired 'ghost-writers' from a developing country and discusses the depth of this emerging threat to the academic community. Initially, through simple internet searches using specific keywords, an array of professional advertisements selling contract writing services were identified. Some of these promotional advertisements were found in Facebook® posts, and/or Twitter® feeds. The second part of this study presents a summary of findings from interviews of a group of ghost-writers including their background, attitude and justifications for setting up this new business. The study identifies several high calibre post-graduates who have come to understand the Western (European/North American/Australian) ways of scientific writing and have produced a network of 'consultancy' services. Although the birth of their business was ad-hoc, they have established a good network and are now able to share projects and practices. Many of them offer services to home and foreign students with varied levels of customer focus. Some of them are even using Turnitin© software to identify text matching issues. This study suggests that these paper mills have widely been subscribed to by students. The article finally discusses wider issues arising from these interviews and proposes some ways of tackling this new threat to academia.
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      – SubjectFull: Plagiarism
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