Plagiarism among Thai Students: A Study of Attitudes and Subjective Norms

Abstract

For Thailand’s schools, colleges, and universities, academic misconduct continues to be one of the most significant challenges. Since the start of the COVID pandemic in March 2020 the use of the internet, digital platforms, and eLearning has dramatically increased. This sudden explosion in online learning presents huge challenges in curtailing the temptations for engaging in plagiarism. The internet provides ample opportunities for Thai students to access a wealth of information without visiting a school or university library. While easy access to the internet has led to a boom in searching for information, it has also made it much easier for students to plagiarize content they come across. Most Thai schools, colleges, and universities have created a policy to curb plagiarism to uphold academic integrity. Since Thai students are very weak in English language proficiency there is a tolerance for copying from the internet. This study is based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) underpinned as a predictive model of academic dishonesty which explains behavior as a final act of logical thinking. Attitudes are the pre-requisites in formulating convictions and normative beliefs which are referred to as subjective norms cultivated from the positive and negative attitudes about plagiarism that students get from society. This study also provides measures to combat plagiarism in Thai institutions.

Keywords: English as Foreign Language (EFL), English Proficiency Index (EPI), Medium of Instruction (MoI), Plagiarism, Thailand

JEL Classification: I20, I21, I22, I23, I24, I26, I27, A23