Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
various rules and policies regarding the copying of materials and the
rules of citation.
Such rules and practices are particularly important, because aca
demic work emphasizes ideas. In academia, we study different per
spectives of how things are or can be or should be. On one level, we
value ideas, and we want to give people credit for the insights they
have.
On another level, as we study a topic, we not only want our un
derstandings to evolve, but we also want to know how those ideas
evolve. When ideas seem to contradict each other, we want to under
stand the different perspectives. As we learn a subject, we recognize
that different groups or individuals work from different experiences or
assumptions, and it is important for us to find connections between
those ideas and perspectives. Because various people have particularly
insightful or original or biased or peculiar ideas, understanding which
ideas came from whom is vital in discovering and investigating those
connections.
The opposite of academic honesty is the use of other people's
ideas without giving them credit. Sometimes this involves using gen
eral ideas, rewording others' writing slightly, or quoting passages
word for word. Each of these practices is dishonest and is called
pla-
giarism
. Academic institutions usually have rules and procedures for
handling cases of suspected plagiarism, and penalties may include
failure on an exercise, failure in a course, placement on probation,
suspension from the school for a period of time, or dismissal.
Academic Freedom: In academia, we frequently hear of the con
cept of academic freedom, but it is important not to confuse this
idea with notions of intellectual property and academic honesty.
Academic freedom
is the principle that intellectual inquiry should
allow an individual to pursue ideas, conduct research, and state
conclusions based on careful methodology, experimentation, and
reasoning. You should not be limited in your opinions because they
are unpopular or different. Although academia expects you to be re
sponsible and reasoned, your ideas do not have to conform.
Academic freedom allows you to think independently and reach
your own conclusions.
In considering this term, however, be careful not to be misled by
the word
freedom
. Academic freedom does not mean that you can
be irresponsible or careless in your thinking. Thus, in forming your
