Collin Institutional Review Board (for Human Subjects Research)
Application Form
Principal Investigator: Valerie Smith
Contact Office: Academic Affairs, CPC
Phone Number and 972-548-6808; vsmith@ccccd.edu
email
Co-Investigators: N/A
Project Title: Assessing the Relative Effects of Cultural and Cognitive Factors on
Plagiarism
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Raymond Green, TAMU-Commerce
Collin Project Number: 2007-12
1.
State the overall objectives and specific aims of the research.
This study is being conducted as partial requirement for the Ph.D. in Psychology at Texas
A&M University-Commerce. This research involves the investigation of the effects of attitude,
language proficiency and cognitive load on plagiarism that forms the basis of the researcher’s
doctoral dissertation. The purpose of the study is to control for common cultural factors cited as
causes for plagiarism while examining the effect of variation in cognitive elements on such
behaviour.
2.
Who are the subjects and how will they be recruited? Attach letters of approval if access to
subjects is sought from clinics or other agencies.
Approximately 450 community college and university students and faculty will serve as
participants in this study. These will be recruited by faculty members from classes across
diverse disciplines, including psychology, developmental and social science courses.
Participants under the age of 18 will be excluded, as participants will be asked on the
informed consent to verify that they are over 18. In the event that a participant signs the
informed consent acknowledging that he or she is of age, but indicates on the instrument
that they are below 18 years of age, the resulting data will not be included in the study.
3.
Attach informed consent form.
See attached.
4.
Describe the procedures to be used, especially any experimental and interventional
procedures. If deception is used, explain clearly what this entails.
This research design has been developed to assess the relative impact of attitudes, behaviours,
linguistic ability and cognitive load on plagiarism. Participants will be asked to respond to a
limited number of items concerning demographic characteristics, attitudes and behaviours,
followed by a writing prompt. Participants will then be presented with a short reading passage
of either high or low text complexity and asked to paraphrase it. Participants will then complete
the Plagiarism Knowledge Survey (PKS; Roig, 1997; 2001). Consent has been received for use
of all materials in this study that have been developed by other researchers.
5.
What risks are faced by subjects participating in this research, e.g., injury, pain,
emotional distress, or invasion of privacy? What measures will be taken to
minimize these risks?
There are no risks faced by participants that exceed those of typical involvement in a college
course. With ongoing concerns in academia about plagiarism and other dishonest behaviors, it
is anticipated that conversations on these matters are occurring in majority of college
classrooms, particularly with inclusion of campus academic honesty statements in syllabi. In
previous research involving student reports of academic dishonesty, there have been no
documented instances of adverse effects.
6.
What are the worst-case scenarios, and how do you plan to deal with them? How will any
adverse effects on subjects be handled or remedied?
A participant could possibly have academic difficulty with some of the concepts; however,
participants have the option to withdraw at any time, and the researcher will available for
debrief and to respond to any participant concerns.
There is a very remote possibility that a student will experience anxiety about academic
dishonesty. Professional counsellors are available on all campuses and may be contacted during
the debriefing to address student concerns, and referral information for Counseling Services has
been made available on the informed consent process form. Because confidentiality will be
maintained, there are neither adverse legal ramifications nor academic consequences for student
participation.
7.
Will there be any costs to be borne by subjects by virtue of their participation in this
research? Will there be any compensation or reimbursement to subjects in this research
(i.e. monetary payments, course credit, services etc.)?
No.
8.
What are the likely benefits of this research to the subjects as well as to society?
This is the rare study that may provide immediate benefit to participants. By spurring questions
related to academic honesty in general and plagiarism specifically, the study may encourage
students to learn more about the subjects, thereby potentially increasing their chances of
academic success. As an instructor, I can note anecdotally that this is an area about which
students tend to be under-informed, with rather significant consequences. As a researcher, I can
attest that this is a common finding that extends beyond my individual classroom.
There is also a benefit in the larger society context. The current literature in the area of
academic honesty and plagiarism focuses on the perceived ethical deficits of students. By
exploring the undertilled area of the role of cognitive factors, the present study may provide
empirical support for more effective interventions designed to assist at-risk students.
9.
Describe any other aspects of the research that may have a bearing on its ethical status.
At the close of the study, I plan to make the findings of the study available in formats
appropriate for both faculty and students.
TAMU-C will serve as the primary IRB; however, the IRB protocols for TAMU-C allow for
multi-protocol submission and call for verification of research approval involving participants
at other campuses or locations. There is no temporal requirement by TAMU-C that they
approve the research prior to other relevant institutions as part of that primary status.
Attach proof that investigators have completed computer-based training on the Protection of
Human Subjects – http://cme.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learning/humanparticipant-protections.asp
The principal researcher has complied with and previously submitted documentation of training
to the Collin College IRB.
Collin Institutional Review Board (for Human Subjects Research)
Decision Form
Principal Investigator: Valerie Smith
Contact Address: Academic Affairs, CPC
Phone Number 972-548-6808; vsmith@ccccd.edu
Co-Investigators:
Project Title: Assessing the Relative Effects of Cultural and Cognitive Factors on
Plagiarism
Sponsor: Dr. Raymond Green, TAMU-Commerce
Grant Number:
Grant Start Date:
Grant End Date:
Collin Project Number: 2007-12
Is this a “New” or New
“Continuing” Project
Date of Submission: 11-30-2007
Date of Resubmission
(if applicable):
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Official Use Only
Reference Number:
IRB process:


X
Exempt
Expedited Review
Full Review
IRB decision:
X
Approved

Not Approved

Conditionally Approved
Comments: (attach additional sheets as necessary)
Gary Hodge
IRB chair or Representative
12-4-2007
Date
* IRB approval is granted only for human subjects research conducted by Collin faculty, staff, or
students on or off campus. Significant changes in design or procedures must be discussed with the IRB
chair or representative. Periodic reviews of ongoing research are also expected. Any unexpected adverse
effects of the research on human subjects should be reported to the IRB chair immediately.