Subedi Krishna, Subedi Nuwadatta, Ranjit Rebicca
Department of Community Dentistry, Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Centre, Pokhara, Nepal.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Gandaki Medical College Teaching Hospital and Research Centre, Pokhara, Nepal.
Res Integr Peer Rev. 2024 Aug 23;9(1):9. doi: 10.1186/s41073-024-00149-5.
This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and ongoing practices of plagiarism among the journal editors of Nepal.
This web-based questionnaire analytical cross-sectional was conducted among journal editors working across various journals in Nepal. All journal editors from NepJOL-indexed journals in Nepal who provided e-consent were included in the study using a convenience sampling technique. A final set of questionnaires was prepared using Google Forms, including six knowledge questions, three practice questions (with subsets) for authors, and four (with subsets) for editors. These were distributed to journal editors in Nepal via email, Facebook Messenger, Viber, and WhatsApp. Reminders were sent weekly, up to three times. Data analysis was done in R software. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for the demographic variables, correct responses regarding knowledge, and practices related to plagiarism. Independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare mean knowledge with demographic variables. For all tests, statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
A total of 147 participants completed the survey.The mean age of the participants was found to be 43.61 ± 8.91 years. Nearly all participants were aware of plagiarism, and most had heard of both Turnitin and iThenticate. Slightly more than three-fourths correctly identified that citation and referencing can avoid plagiarism. The overall mean knowledge score was 5.32 ± 0.99, with no significant differences across demographic variables. As authors, 4% admitted to copying sections of others' work without acknowledgment and reusing their own published work without proper citations. Just over one-fifth did not use plagiarism detection software when writing research articles. Fewer than half reported that their journals used authentic plagiarism detection software. Four-fifths of them suspected plagiarism in the manuscripts assigned through their journal. Three out of every five participants reported the plagiarism used in the manuscript to the respective authors. Nearly all participants believe every journal must have plagiarism-detection software.
Although journal editors' knowledge and practices regarding plagiarism appear to be high, they are still not satisfactory. It is strongly recommended to use authentic plagiarism detection software by the journals and editors should be adequately trained and update their knowledge about it.
本研究旨在评估尼泊尔期刊编辑对抄袭的认知及当前的相关做法。
本研究采用基于网络问卷的分析性横断面研究方法，对尼泊尔各类期刊的编辑进行调查。采用便利抽样技术，纳入了尼泊尔NepJOL索引期刊中所有提供电子同意书的期刊编辑。使用谷歌表单编制了最终问卷集，包括六个知识问题、三个针对作者的实践问题（含子问题）以及四个针对编辑的实践问题（含子问题）。通过电子邮件、脸书信使、Viber和WhatsApp将问卷分发给尼泊尔的期刊编辑。每周发送提醒，最多发送三次。在R软件中进行数据分析。计算人口统计学变量的频率和百分比、关于抄袭知识的正确回答以及与抄袭相关的做法。使用独立t检验和单因素方差分析将平均知识水平与人口统计学变量进行比较。所有检验的统计学显著性设定为p < 0.05。
共有147名参与者完成了调查。参与者的平均年龄为43.61 ± 8.91岁。几乎所有参与者都知晓抄袭，且大多数人都听说过Turnitin和iThenticate。略超过四分之三的人正确识别出引用和参考文献可以避免抄袭。总体平均知识得分是5.32 ± 0.99，不同人口统计学变量之间无显著差异。作为作者，4%的人承认在未注明出处的情况下抄袭他人作品的部分内容，以及在未正确引用的情况下重复使用自己已发表的作品。略超过五分之一的人在撰写研究文章时未使用抄袭检测软件。不到一半的人报告称他们所在的期刊使用了正版抄袭检测软件。五分之四的人怀疑通过他们期刊分配的稿件存在抄袭行为。每五名参与者中有三名会将稿件中存在的抄袭行为告知相应作者。几乎所有参与者都认为每个期刊都必须配备抄袭检测软件。
尽管期刊编辑对抄袭的认知和做法似乎较高，但仍不尽人意。强烈建议期刊使用正版抄袭检测软件，并且编辑应接受充分培训并更新相关知识。
