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Understanding How and Why Students Use Academic File-Sharing and Homework-Help Websites: Implications for Academic Integrity

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Title: Understanding How and Why Students Use Academic File-Sharing and Homework-Help Websites: Implications for Academic Integrity
Language: English
Authors: Christine Slade (ORCID 0000-0002-2197-2824), Guy J. Curtis (ORCID 0000-0002-4174-6955), Sheona Thomson (ORCID 0000-0001-8119-0085)
Source: Higher Education Research and Development. 2024 43(7):1586-1601.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Students, Shared Resources and Services, Homework, Academic Support Services, Integrity, Ethics, School Policy, Informal Education, Web Sites, Social Media, Plagiarism, Moral Issues, Student Motivation, Student Attitudes
Geographic Terms: South Africa, United States, United Kingdom, Canada
DOI: 10.1080/07294360.2024.2349290
ISSN: 0729-4360
1469-8366
Abstract: In the past decade, extra-institutional file-sharing and homework-help websites have gone from being small-scale operations to large corporate businesses. File-sharing and homework-help websites threaten academic integrity when students use assessment work sourced from these sites as if it were their own. However, little is known about how students use these websites, what motivates students' use, and whether students are aware of the risks of using these sites. In an international survey of 1000 students, nearly half had heard of, or used, file-sharing and homework-help websites, and 377 completed a longer follow-up survey. We also undertook qualitative analysis of social media posts related to file-sharing and homework-help websites. Students indicate that they used the websites to obtain material to study for and/or complete assessments, and they exchanged assessment and study materials for altruistic reasons as well as for personal benefit. Students were mostly aware of academic integrity risks in using the websites but were typically unaware of their own institutions' position or policies regarding the use of these sites. It is recommended that higher education institutions develop policies and educate students regarding unaffiliated file-sharing and homework-help websites to promote academic integrity.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2024
Accession Number: EJ1442021
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Understanding How and Why Students Use Academic File-Sharing and Homework-Help Websites: Implications for Academic Integrity
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Christine+Slade%22">Christine Slade</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2197-2824">0000-0002-2197-2824</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Guy+J%2E+Curtis%22">Guy J. Curtis</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4174-6955">0000-0002-4174-6955</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sheona+Thomson%22">Sheona Thomson</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8119-0085">0000-0001-8119-0085</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Higher+Education+Research+and+Development%22"><i>Higher Education Research and Development</i></searchLink>. 2024 43(7):1586-1601.
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 16
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  Data: 2024
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Shared+Resources+and+Services%22">Shared Resources and Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Homework%22">Homework</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Support+Services%22">Academic Support Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Integrity%22">Integrity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethics%22">Ethics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Policy%22">School Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Informal+Education%22">Informal Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Web+Sites%22">Web Sites</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Media%22">Social Media</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plagiarism%22">Plagiarism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Moral+Issues%22">Moral Issues</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Motivation%22">Student Motivation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Africa%22">South Africa</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink>
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  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1080/07294360.2024.2349290
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  Data: 0729-4360<br />1469-8366
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: In the past decade, extra-institutional file-sharing and homework-help websites have gone from being small-scale operations to large corporate businesses. File-sharing and homework-help websites threaten academic integrity when students use assessment work sourced from these sites as if it were their own. However, little is known about how students use these websites, what motivates students' use, and whether students are aware of the risks of using these sites. In an international survey of 1000 students, nearly half had heard of, or used, file-sharing and homework-help websites, and 377 completed a longer follow-up survey. We also undertook qualitative analysis of social media posts related to file-sharing and homework-help websites. Students indicate that they used the websites to obtain material to study for and/or complete assessments, and they exchanged assessment and study materials for altruistic reasons as well as for personal benefit. Students were mostly aware of academic integrity risks in using the websites but were typically unaware of their own institutions' position or policies regarding the use of these sites. It is recommended that higher education institutions develop policies and educate students regarding unaffiliated file-sharing and homework-help websites to promote academic integrity.
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  Data: 2024
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  Data: EJ1442021
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        Value: 10.1080/07294360.2024.2349290
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      – Text: English
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Shared Resources and Services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Homework
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      – SubjectFull: Integrity
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      – SubjectFull: School Policy
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      – SubjectFull: South Africa
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      – TitleFull: Understanding How and Why Students Use Academic File-Sharing and Homework-Help Websites: Implications for Academic Integrity
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