Ethical Use of Information:
A College of Wooster Libraries Tutorial

Julia Gustafson
Access Services Librarian

Why Discuss Ethical Use | Academic Integrity | Data on Cheating
What Is Plagiarism | How to Avoid Plagiarism | Related Links

On Campus . . .

Imagine you have a report due tomorrow on a book you did not yet finish and the grade for your class was important to you. What would you do? Try to get an extension? Use Cliff Notes to write your report, but neglect to cite the Cliff Notes as your source?

Imagine you have a major paper due on a topic that you find difficult to understand. What would you do? Seek assistance from the Writing Center on how to best approach your research and writing? Find someone else to research and write your paper and turn it in as your own work?

Imagine you did not set enough time aside to study for the mid-term in one of your major courses. Would you take your chances and do the best you can on the test? Would you bring in a concealed cheat sheet to "help you out?"

Imagine you were required to have at least 10 sources for your research paper and you could only find 7 that were appropriate, even with the help of a librarian. Would you discuss how to approach this problem with your professor? Would you "pad" your list of references by making up 3 references that do not actually exist so your paper would "look good."

In Real Life . . .

Imagine you have been working for ten years on an original research project that was almost completed, and you were in the process of finding a publisher for the book you've been writing about your research, and you come accross a journal article by a former student of yours describing your exact research in a professional journal, only the author claimed the research as his own. How would you feel? What would you do?

Imagine you found some great information for a presentation for your company, added it to your presentation claiming it as your own, your company used the information in a major campaign, and the original author sued the company for copyright infringement and won. What do you think would happen? Would you lose your job?

The Ethical Use of Information . . .

...is about the values of the individual; the values of the institution or organization where the individual works, participates in, or attends school; and the values of the larger society that creates the legal system we all abide by.

On our campus, the ethical use of information is defined by the College of Wooster's Code of Academic Integrity.

In the broader world, the ethical use of information covers issues of copyright, fair use, intellectual property, and plagiarism.

NEXT: Academic Integrity