Cultural Expectations

What are your experiences?

U.S. Academic Culture & Expectations

Values & Priorities*• Interaction, discussion• Original thought• Individual ownership of ideas and knowledge• Analysis, synthesis of information• Directness in oral and written communication (stylistic, vocabulary

differences by discipline)• Freedom and choice• Academic misconduct is very serious

* Adapted from U.S. Culture Series: U.S. Classroom Culture January 01, 2004. Michael Smithee, Sidney L. Greenblatt, and Alisa Eland

Cultural Differences in Academic Context

Continuum of Educational & Cultural Differences

Thinking Critically……………………….........…... Rote Memorization

Interactive Classroom…………...……………….........…. Lecture Style

Self-selected classes…………...……………….. Pre-established classes

Competition………………………...............................…... Cooperation

Direct Communication…………...………….. Indirect Communication

Focus on Originality………….........……………….. Focus on Tradition

Focus on Individual………….............………….. Focus on Community

Citing………………………...............................................…... Copying

Additional Difficulties & Cultural Differences

“Common knowledge” vs. individual knowledgeCollaboration vs. competitionGroup focus of society vs. individual society focusReporting misconduct = betrayal vs. Reporting misconduct = honorEqual access to resources vs. competition for resourcesAcademic/Cultural differences between UCB & prior educationDisciplinary/Course-specific differences in expectationsNo one definition of Academic Honesty or IntegrityChanging rules, expectationsFinancial, family pressureImposter Syndrome

Academic Honesty & Common Mistakes

What is an Academic Honor Code?

• Rules (usually ethical or moral) which guide a community or society

• Community or institutional expectations• By being a member of the community-

you agree to abide

“As a member of the UC Berkeley community, I act with honesty, integrity, and respect for others.”

http://asuc.org/honorcode/

Why is Academic Honesty important?• Self-respect• Making ethical choices• Benefits to society• Beliefs and values• Trust, fairness, honesty, responsibility • Integrity is fundamental to academics• Genuine learning- that’s what learning is all about • The “Real World” outside of academics- How would you feel if you knew

your doctor or attorney had been academically dishonest in their studies? Had cheated or plagiarized in school? In a professional environment?

Academic MisconductAcademic misconduct is any action or attempted action that may

result in creating an unfair academic advantage for oneself or an unfair academic advantage or disadvantage for any other member or members of the academic community.

This includes a wide variety of behaviors such as cheating, plagiarism, altering academic documents or transcripts, gaining access to materials before they are intended to be available, and helping a friend to gain an unfair academic advantage.

The Center for Student Conducthttp://sa.berkeley.edu/conduct/integrity/definition

Types of Academic Dishonesty

Cheating

Plagiarism Course Materials

Theft or Damage of Intellectual Property

Alteration of University

Documents

Disturbances in the

Classroom or Lab

False Information or Alteration

of Information

Unauthorized

Collaboration

The Center for Student Conduct http://sa.berkeley.edu/conduct/integrity/definition

Respect for authority 25.6 %

Language problem 20.9 %

Previous educational experience on referencing

27.9 %

Cultural misconception (Plagiarism does not matter)

20.9 %

Individual values (Personality trait)

4.7 %

Source: Overcoming the cultural issues associated with plagiarism for International students

Cultural factors that can impact understanding of plagiarism?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/why-do-international-students-cheat/article593033/

Common Mistakes• Unauthorized collaboration- i.e. sharing test answers, notes, problem sets,

essays; Working together to complete an assignment without permission• Using other’s ideas, phrasing, metaphors, without acknowledgement• Citation problems- assuming something is common knowledge, failing to

cite sources properly, online content, poor selection of sources• Using old exams to prepare for a test• Paraphrasing problems• Self-plagiarism- multiple submission, submitting old papers• Time Management issues• Study skills• Not reading the syllabus or understanding course expectations

Academic Consequences• Not knowing is not an acceptable excuse• Consequences range from getting an F on a paper, to an F in the

class, to suspension, expulsion, dismissal• Official conduct procedures & process• Suspension, expulsion, dismissal all have consequences to visa

status• Long term consequences- Grad School, employment,

recommendations, lacking necessary skills for success, failing to achieve subject mastery

Resources

UC Libraries Guides & Research Help

Library Research Help: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Help/research_help.html Citation Guides, Style Guides, & Avoiding Plagiarism: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/instruct/guides/citations.html http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Help/guides.html

http://sa.berkeley.edu/cite-responsibly