What is Collusion Plagiarism?

In the academic and professional world, maintaining integrity and originality in your work is paramount. However, sometimes the lines between collaboration and collusion can become blurred, leading to unintentional plagiarism.

This article delves into the concept of collusion plagiarism, distinguishing acceptable collaborative practices from those that cross the line into plagiarism.

By understanding the nuances and implementing preventive measures, you can ensure that your work remains authentic and credible.

What is Collusion Plagiarism?

Collusion plagiarism occurs when two or more individuals collaborate in a way that results in work being submitted that is not entirely their own, without proper acknowledgment of each person’s contributions.

Unlike individual plagiarism, where a person directly copies someone else’s work, collusion involves a level of cooperation that leads to the submission of work that is misleading about who did what.

In academic settings, this often happens when students work together on assignments meant to be completed individually.

In professional environments, it can occur when colleagues jointly produce work that is presented as the effort of a single individual.

Examples of Collusion Plagiarism

Understanding collusion plagiarism can be more intuitive with concrete examples.

Here are some examples that illustrate different scenarios where this common form of plagiarism can occur:

Identical Essays from Study Partners

Scenario: Two students, Jane and Tom, study together for their history class. They discuss their essay topics and share detailed outlines. However, instead of writing their essays independently, they end up submitting nearly identical papers with minor changes in wording.

Violation: Even though they worked together, the essays were meant to be individual efforts. The similarity in their submissions suggests they collaborated too closely, resulting in collusion plagiarism.

Shared Coding Assignments

Scenario: In a computer science course, Emma and Liam work on a coding assignment meant to be completed individually. Emma writes a substantial portion of the code and shares it with Liam, who then makes a few tweaks and submits it as his own work.

Violation: Liam’s submission does not reflect his independent effort, as required by the assignment. The shared code and minimal changes demonstrate collusion plagiarism.

Undisclosed Group Work

Scenario: Sarah, Alex, and Mia are given a take-home exam with the instruction to complete it individually. They decide to work together, discussing each question and collectively coming up with answers.

Each submits their version of the answers without acknowledging the group’s collaboration.

Violation: The take-home exam was intended to assess individual understanding. Their collective effort and identical or similar answers constitute collusion plagiarism.

Must Read? What Cannot be Considered as Plagiarism?

Copying Lab Reports

Scenario: John and his lab partner, Emily, conduct a physics experiment together. After collecting data, they are supposed to write separate lab reports. Instead, John writes the report and Emily copies it, making slight modifications before submitting.

Violation: Emily’s report is not independently written and relies heavily on John’s work, leading to the said academic misconduct.

Group Homework with Individual Submission Requirement

Scenario: A math class assigns homework to be completed individually. Four friends, however, decide to solve the problems together. They work on the solutions as a group and then each student submits the same solutions with only minor differences.

Violation: The homework was intended to be an individual assessment task. The group’s collective effort and identical submissions are examples of plagiarism and collusion.

Collaborating on an Online Test

Scenario: During an online test, Mark and Lucy decide to stay on a video call, discussing and answering questions together in real-time. They submit their tests with similar answers and reasoning.

Violation: The online test was designed to measure individual performance. Their real-time collaboration and similar submissions show collusion plagiarism.

Practices Permitted in Collusion

Not all forms of collaboration are considered collusion. Understanding what is permissible can help you navigate group work effectively.

Here are some practices that are typically allowed:

• Group Projects: When working on officially assigned group projects, collaboration is not only permitted but expected. Each member’s contribution should be clear, and proper credit should be given.
• Study Groups: Discussing and studying course material with peers is usually allowed, as long as the final work submitted is independently written and reflects your understanding.
• Peer Reviews: Providing and receiving feedback on drafts can be beneficial and is often encouraged. Ensure that the feedback process does not lead to copying or unacknowledged use of someone else’s ideas.
• Shared Resources: Using shared notes or resources is acceptable if it is explicitly allowed by the instructor or supervisor and the final work is independently produced.

When Are You Guilty of Plagiarism in Collusion?

Understanding when collaboration crosses the line into collusion plagiarism is crucial for maintaining academic and professional integrity.

You are guilty of collusion plagiarism under the following circumstances:

Unattributed Joint Work

Scenario: You and a peer work together on an assignment intended for individual completion. If you submit the work without acknowledging your peer’s contributions, you are presenting it as solely your own effort, which constitutes collusion plagiarism.

Identical or Similar Submissions

Scenario: You and a classmate discuss an assignment and end up submitting work that is either identical or strikingly similar. If the assignment was meant to be done individually, the high degree of similarity suggests that you collaborated too closely, resulting in collusion plagiarism.

Undisclosed Assistance

Scenario: You receive significant help from a friend or a tutor on an assignment and fail to disclose this assistance. By not acknowledging the help received, you mislead the assessor into believing the work is entirely your own, which is a form of collusion plagiarism.

This article is originally published on the Bytescare Blog.