outsourcing assignments? exposing the threat … assignments? exposing the threat posed by contract...

@MyBCU www.facebook.com/birminghamcityuniversity #contractcheating 1

Outsourcing Assignments? Exposing The Threat Posed By Contract

Cheating To The Computing Industry

Thomas Lancaster & Robert ClarkeBCS Wolverhampton

Wednesday, 24 April 2013


A Bit Of Background


What We’re Covering…

An introduction to contract cheating, suitable for both IT practitioners and academics

(not

a research heavy talk, but our research has informed the session)

The focus is on:Examples of contract cheatingExtent and areas of contract cheatingIntroduction to the detection of contract cheatingRecommendations for the IT sector


Who Are We?

Dr. Thomas Lancaster

Senior Lecturer in Computing

PhD “Effective And Efficient Plagiarism Detection”

CD BSc Computer Science

Robert Clarke

Educational Consultant

Visiting Lecturer/Principal Lecturer

30 Years Experience Teaching At BCU

“Detective Bob”


Introduction


Wouldn’t It Be Nice?

If you could have someone do your job for you?!


US Employee ‘Outsourced Job To China’“A security check on a US company has reportedly

revealed one of its staff was outsourcing his work to China.

The software developer, in his 40s, is thought to have spent his workdays surfing the web, watching cat

videos on YouTube and browsing Reddit and eBay.He reportedly paid just a fifth of his six‐figure salary to

a company based in Shenyang to do his job.”

BBC News, 16 January 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology‐21043693

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21043693


Cat Videos?

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cat+videos

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cat+videos


Hiring Workers Can Be Legitimate

http://www.freelancer.com

http://www.freelancer.com/


Outsourcing Websites Can Be Useful…

For Companies

Bring in technical skills that you the company lacks

Reduce administrative workloads

Use workers from cost‐ effective

economies

Get more projects completed

For Contractors

Find additional work

Make longer‐term contacts

Access jobs outside your local area

Develop a part‐time income

Get positive testimonials


Leads To A Competitive Tender Process

http://www.freelancer.com/projects/PHP‐Java/find‐code‐location‐within‐image.html

http://www.freelancer.com/projects/PHP-Java/find-code-location-within-image.html


Where Contract Cheating Comes In…


The Problem?

http://www.freelancer.com/projects/Financial‐Research‐Finance/word‐essay‐finance‐trade.html

http://www.freelancer.com/projects/Financial-Research-Finance/word-essay-finance-trade.html


Project Description:

2500 words; Due in 5 days;

High quality; Zero Plagiarism;

Send me PM about your background and qualifications and I

will send you file details.

There will be a steady stream of essays, and I look forward to long term cooperation if this one is good.

Skills required: Academic Writing, Business Analysis, Finance, Financial

Markets, Financial Research

http://www.freelancer.com/jobs/Academic-Writing/

http://www.freelancer.com/jobs/Business-Analysis/

http://www.freelancer.com/jobs/Finance/

http://www.freelancer.com/jobs/Financial-Markets/

http://www.freelancer.com/jobs/Financial-Markets/

http://www.freelancer.com/jobs/Financial-Research/


We Also Know…

(as of 23 April 2013)


And Previously…


52 Bidding


Including…


Currently Working On…


What We Have Is Known As Contract Cheating

Contract cheating occurs when a student has original work produced for them, which they then submit for academic credit


How Students Cheat


Categories Of University Coursework Cheating

Collusioncopying from students

in same cohort

ContractCheating

work is produced by an external agent

Plagiarismcopying from books

or internet


More Contract Cheating Sources

Friends and family“Will you help me – you’ve studied this before?”

Explicit Essay Writing Sites“How much will my essay cost?”

Private Tutors“Will you come, teach me and help me to write this?”


Essay Mills Come In All Types


This Is What The BBC Think

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education‐20330590

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20330590

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20330590


The Biggest Problem With Contract Cheating?

If work has been produced using contract cheating methods, it is entirely original

It won’t be detected using plagiarism detection systems, such as TurnItIn

A (labour‐intensive) detective role is required


Example Turnitin


Example JPlag

JPlag is a system that finds similarities among multiple sets of source code

files.

JPlag does not merely compare bytes of text, but is aware of programming

language syntax and program structure and hence is robust against many kinds of attempts to disguise similarities

between plagiarized files.

JPlag currently supports Java, C#, C, C++, Scheme and natural language text.


Plagiarism and Collusion Detection

Student

assignmentsInternet

Search

Engines

Non‐originality

EngineDatabase of previously

scanned student work

xxx xxxx xxxx

xxx x x x x xx

x x x x x x x

x x x

xxx xxxx xxxx

xxx x x x x xx

x x x x x x x

x x x

Non‐originality

Report



Student

assignmentsInternet

Search

Engines

Non‐originality



xxx xxxx xxxx

xxx x x x x xx

x x x x x x x

x x x

xxx xxxx xxxx

xxx x x x x xx

x x x x x x x

x x x

Non‐originality

ReportDetection of “non‐original”

work relies on being able to

compare an assignment

against other sources.



Student

assignmentsInternet

Search

Engines

Non‐originality



xxx xxxx xxxx

xxx x x x x xx

x x x x x x x

x x x

xxx xxxx xxxx

xxx x x x x xx

x x x x x x x

x x x

Non‐originality

ReportDetection of “non‐original”

work relies on being able to

compare an assignment

against other sources.

Work produced by “contract

cheating”

is original –

but it was

not

done by the student.


The Extent Of Contract Cheating


Is Contract Cheating Really Much Of A Problem?Freelancer (+ previously

vWorker)main sites we examineeasy to searchgive most details of userstracking sub‐contractors

vWorkerhas “no homework”policybut closed auctions

Kasamba (Liveperson)“tutorial”

site

Student Of Fortune + Transtutors

sells HW solutions


Extent of Contract Cheating

Country nCases %

USA 459 50%

United Kingdom 239 26%

Australia 101 11%

Canada 61 7%

Other 34 4%

Turkey 18 2%

Total 912 100%

Number of cases of Contract Cheating by Country where the source

was identified(912 cases

from Mar 04 to Oct 06)

The “average student”

posts between 4 and 7 assignments

R. Clarke, and T. Lancaster, “Eliminating the Successor to Plagiarism? Identifying the usage of contract cheating sites”, in

Proceedings of 2nd International Plagiarism Conference, Gateshead, United Kingdom, June 19‐21, 2006


Original Survey of RentacoderThe “average”

student posts 4‐7 assignments

They are not getting detectedThey are getting “value for money”

Source mostly courses in English language Mostly USA, UK, AustraliaOther countries run courses in EnglishTurkey shows up because material is easily Googled

Small number of high number of postingsIdentifies “contractors”

who do post work for others

Usually work from different colleges and subjects


Types of Assignments Posted ‐

Computing Only

Assessing Contract Cheating Through Auction Sites – A Computing Perspective, Lancaster, T and Clarke, R. 8th Annual Conference of the Higher Education Academy for Information and Computer Sciences, August 2007

(910 cases

from Mar 04 to Dec 06)


Larger RentACoder Study (2007)Mostly computing topics (910 out of 950)Reflects bias in website name (does what it says on the tin)

Programming in C++/Java most common typeReflects the types of assignments we post (40%)

32 “Major projects”

were detected Only 3.5% overall in this surveyBut 9.5% (22 out of 231) bid requests from UK

Average number of postings per student downBecause we are detecting more first‐time offenders?Wider awareness of the problemMore students starting to use outsourcing


EssayBay Study (2010)

Dealing with Contract Cheating: A Question of Attribution; Lancaster & Clarke; HEA STEM Conference April 2012

(627 cases

in 5 months)


EssayBay Study (2010)


EssayBay ‐ conclusionsFirst study of a web‐site dedicating to enabling contract

cheatingRentacoder (now vWorker) 85% legitimate workSite ceased fully functioning in Aug 2010Shows wide range of subjects involvedMaths & Computing only 5%Business Studies main category (25%)Everything from “anthropology to theology”Range of levels of workDifficult to verify (mostly self‐reported by student)Significant number at Masters level (21%)Some PhD requests – mostly research proposals


Anthropology #06942 (not traced) Topic: a.) Select a topic or issue you would find within a culture (i.e. art forms,

health issues, family relations, hairstyles, food, symbolism, beliefs). Select any topic that you think could capture your interest: warfare, transportation,

political systems, money, styles of dress – there is no limit. b.) Once you have selected a topic or issue, select a living culture and discuss your selected topic or issue within that culture. For instance, you may be interested in the rise of

diabetes in indigenous people such as the Kayapo, or the educational boundaries of women in the Middle East. Or you may compare and contrast

two cultures with the same issue, such as the role of adolescence in the United States and China, or the comparison between the Amish consumption

and labor to that of their neighboring cities. Be sure to choose

a culture(s) appropriate for a study within cultural anthropology (a study of

living

people). Thesis: Develop a clear thesis statement/topic sentence. This will become the

point or perspective you will compare or discuss in the paper.


Theology #06360 (not traced) The paper should focus on the discrete aspect of Karol

Wojtyla/John Paul II's anthropology or ethics. This is a reflection paper that analyzes his book "Love and

Responsibility" and Wojtyla's sexual ethic. Choose some aspect of "Love and Responsibility" (such as the

personalistic norm, the nature of love, or chastity etc) to write about and then also demonstrate the issue's

relationship to anthropologyI am not the smartest student in the class so please make

the paper believable (a 80%‐90% grade range)


EssayBay Analysis by Source Institution

76%

Only 24% of postings traced back to their originating institutions

“Attributability”

of assignments is a key factor


Business studies # 06724 (not traced)

Take Home Exam

An Innocent Abroad: Fred Bailey in Tokyo Case Study Analysis based on Cross Cultural

Management view point (using Hofstede's Cultural Indices and MBI Frame work)

Google finds About 181,000 results


Detecting Contract Cheating


Stages of Detection and AttributionAssignments

Posted

SourceAttributed

StudentIdentified

1 in 3 postings detected

1 in 3attributed

1 in 3students found

1 in 27 cheaters

dealt with


Methods of AttributionGoogle search Text in the body of the postingText in attachmentsMay also use TurnitinAlias used by studentAlso used on social networking sitesGives details of locationPhoto used by student Usually relies on trace evidenceuse text editor to examine filesMultiple postings may be neededBy same student over a period of timeBy different students at same timeMay need to use several itemse.g. module code + location


Closing the Loop The “Holy Grail”

is to get hold of the original the student bought

Contact the auction sitethey will claim client confidentiality without a court orderBid for your own assignment (“Doin’

a Dan”)

but could be “entrapment”; evidence could be “tainted”Post the assignment yourself and select the same coderexpect a similar solution to be providedPay the coder to hand over the originalunlikely to succeed –

unless student is in dispute with coder

If the coder is a student at another institutioncontact the HoD and persuade the coder to hand over the items


A New Success? ‐

Assignment Briefs on Turnitin

Small %ages can

be significant

matches occurs

when student

paper contains

parts of

assignment brief

We recommend that staff upload

assignment briefs to Turnitin as soon

as the assignment is released to

students


Upcoming Challenges


Students Can Be Sophisticated

VB.net Help Rentacoder

Bid Request Id: 456292

I need help with VB.net i will be having a online quizz quizz its not a programming or something like that

it will be multiple choice questions and this online quiz will be 50 MINs

and it i will start at 9.30 PM

please check the time at http://www.worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_US‐TX.aspx

so i will chat from MSN

and i will ask question with the multiple choice and you answer the questions

the topics will be ( but there will be no programming questions like do the program or something like that all will be multiple choice questions) if you are know about all this topic please bid with confident

http://www.worldtimeserver.com/current_time_in_US-TX.aspx


Does Anyone Lose Out With Contract Cheating?Student

– they have not gained the skills for the

jobUniversity

– perception of poor quality students

Employer

– wasted recruitment costSociety

– perception that students are not hard

workers, as portrayed by the mediaProfessional Bodies –

ethical considerations, risk

to accreditation


Not Victimless ‐ Example 1ASSINMENT TITLE:

Models of death and dying and grief and loss enhance our understanding of and guide the delivery of palliative care practice.

Critically analyse this statement with reference to the provision of palliative care to individuals with a life limiting illness and their families.

Would you like to be treated by this nurse?


Not Victimless ‐ Example 2Radar system designThe design of Air‐Traffic‐Control radar system. The proposed

system should have the capability to detect common civilian aircraft within a range of 100km.

The proposal should consist of detail description of the radar subsystem which includes antenna system, transmitter, receiver

and data acquisition unit. All necessary calculations based on the specification provided, system block diagram, component level

block diagram, and all the components used in the design must be included in the proposal.

Could you rely on this technician?


Not Victimless ‐ Example 3Nuclear Engineering

this a assignment for do shielding for fast reactor i need the materials, shape, attenuation coefficient and

size of the shielding and dose analysis around the reactor. this for health physics or nuclear engineering

Do you want to live within 5 miles

of this person?


Not Only Assignments She posted work‐related items as wellSystems Development paperSelect a sample system for

development that would benefit a

business of your choice. Prepare a

plan for determining the feasibility

of the systems development.

Present and explain both business

and system planning documents

and/or templates that allows you

to state the objectives, goals and

tactics. Explain how they are used

and show examples. Please

comment on how you would

present risks and mitigation

strategies to users.

1400‐2450 words.

UOP assignment

DB helpI need help with an exisiting database form. The form

needs to be searchable by patient name. And the

follow‐up visits section shows 3 slots they would

rather have one that shows ALL the follow‐up visits.

Let me know if more info is needed. The database

information is CONFIDENTIAL. Thanks

1600 “live”

oncology records

from hospital in

California


Other Requests to “Outsource”Completion of “pre‐interview”

on‐line aptitude tests

Fake letters from an employer supporting a student project

Make up entries for a Personal Development Profile

Alter the marks on a Transcript of Study

Produce fake “course completion”

certificates


And It’s Not Just Contract Cheating…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk‐england‐somerset‐22269573

“University of Bath student jailed over tutor bribe bid”

“A failing student who tried to bribe his tutor while carrying a loaded air pistol has been jailed for 12 months.

Yang Li, 26, placed £5,000 in cash on the professor's table but when he was told to leave, the gun fell from his pocket…”

BBC News – 23 April, 2013

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-22269573


Recommendations


The Future?

The challenge of contract cheating needs to pull together students, academics and industry

Real case studies and industry assessments are valued inside the classroom

Universities struggling against increased on‐line, distance learning and franchise activities

An increased number of contractors providing solutions opened up through the Internet

More robust (and automated) models of detection neededStill need to increase awareness (“My students don’t do

this!”)


Further Resources


For More Information

Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_cheating

Contract Cheating Special Interest Group (support by the Higher Education Academy):

https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi‐ bin/webadmin?A0=CONTRACTCHEATING

Slides Available At:

http://www.slideshare.net/ThomasLancaster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_cheating

https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=CONTRACTCHEATING

https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=CONTRACTCHEATING

http://www.slideshare.net/ThomasLancaster


Our Contact Details

Thomas Lancaster

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://thomaslancaster.co.uk

Twitter: @DrLancaster

Robert Clarke

Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://thomaslancaster.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/DrLancaster

mailto:[email protected]

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