Plagiarism in dentistry - a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Academic Integrity
• Research Ethics
• Scholarly Communication

Background:

• Plagiarism presents a persistent challenge in academic and research settings.
• Understanding the nuances of acceptable plagiarism, perpetrators, and contributing factors is crucial for effective management.
• Existing literature lacks a clear consensus on what constitutes 'acceptable plagiarism'.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on plagiarism.
• To define 'acceptable plagiarism', identify perpetrators, and explore encouraging factors.
• To investigate strategies for managing plagiarism in academic contexts.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searches were performed across Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases.
• 29 papers were selected for analysis, with 23 assessed for quality using the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal Tool.

Main Results:

• There is no established threshold for 'acceptable plagiarism'.
• Males and non-native language speakers are identified as groups more likely to plagiarize.
• Factors contributing to plagiarism include lack of clear definitions, internet accessibility, and institutional/societal expectations.

Conclusions:

• Plagiarism is difficult to eradicate due to unclear definitions and pervasive digital access.
• Mitigation strategies include grammar support and alternative submission formats (e.g., video presentations).
• Promoting original scholarship and ethical principles is fundamental to combating academic fraud.