An Investigation into the attitudes of academic librarians towards Internet plagiarism of HE students using a Delphi study

This presentation will outline the findings of a study undertaken to investigate the attitudes of academic librarians towards Internet plagiarism by Higher Education students in the United Kingdom. A Delphi study – with its potential to yield rich qualitative data – was chosen as the most appropriate research tool for the study. A Delphi study is defined by its distinct stages. Key components include securing a sufficient number of qualified participants followed by the iterative process of preparation and distribution of questionnaires, analysis of responses and feedback to participants. For the purposes of this research qualified participation consisted of academic librarians who possessed the knowledge and/or practical experience of teaching about plagiarism and the Internet.