Why Collaborate when You can Cheat? Understanding Plagiarism in Occupational Therapy Education

Although there is a growing literature and numerous web sites on plagiarism, there has been little examination of it in the context of teaching occupational therapy students. However, it is important to understand what is meant by plagiarism and other related terms. This article explores the current understandings of plagiarism and examines the research findings to date. It suggests that plagiarism is affected by disciplinary differences and argues that punishing and deterring plagiarism in both universities and practice are still areas that need thoughtful consideration and implementation. The article further suggests that lecturers and practitioners need to be aware of the plagiarism policies whilst also understanding that there is a range of cheating behaviours and that, therefore, fair and consistent practices need to be adopted across health and social care education and practice.