⚖️ Ethics in Computing

Academic Integrity

What is Academic Integrity?

"A commitment, even in the face of adversity, to five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility." — International Center for Academic Integrity

Core Values

Value Meaning
Honesty Truthful representation of your work
Trust Reliable scholarly community
Fairness Equitable standards for all
Respect Acknowledge others' contributions
Responsibility Accountability for your actions

Common Violations

Violation Description Example
Plagiarism Using others' work without attribution Copy-paste without citation
Cheating Unauthorized assistance Copying on exam, unauthorized collab
Fabrication Inventing data/citations Made-up survey results
Facilitation Helping others cheat Sharing answers
Self-plagiarism Reusing own work without disclosure Submitting same paper twice

Citation Fundamentals

When to Cite

Always Cite No Need to Cite
Direct quotes Common knowledge (water boils at 100°C)
Paraphrased ideas Your own original analysis
Statistics/data Your own experimental results
Images/code Your own created content

Citation Styles

Style Fields Example
APA Psychology, Education (Smith, 2023)
MLA Humanities (Smith 45)
Chicago History ¹Smith, Title, 45
IEEE Engineering [1]

In-Text vs. Bibliography

In-text: (Smith, 2023, p. 42)
Bibliography: Smith, J. (2023). *Academic Writing*. Oxford Press.

In-text: (Smith, 2023, p. 42)
Bibliography: Smith, J. (2023). *Academic Writing*. Oxford Press.

// In-text: (Smith, 2023, p. 42)
// Bibliography: Smith, J. (2023). *Academic Writing*. Oxford Press.

// In-text: (Smith, 2023, p. 42)
// Bibliography: Smith, J. (2023). *Academic Writing*. Oxford Press.

Proper Paraphrasing

Bad: Changing a few words (patchwriting) Good: Read → Understand → Close source → Write in own words → Cite

Original: "The rapid advancement of AI has transformed healthcare delivery."

❌ Bad: The quick progress of AI has changed healthcare delivery.
✅ Good: Recent advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping how medical care is delivered (Smith, 2023).

Original: "The rapid advancement of AI has transformed healthcare delivery."

❌ Bad: The quick progress of AI has changed healthcare delivery.
✅ Good: Recent advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping how medical care is delivered (Smith, 2023).

// Original: "The rapid advancement of AI has transformed healthcare delivery."

// ❌ Bad: The quick progress of AI has changed healthcare delivery.
// ✅ Good: Recent advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping how medical care is delivered (Smith, 2023).

// Original: "The rapid advancement of AI has transformed healthcare delivery."

// ❌ Bad: The quick progress of AI has changed healthcare delivery.
// ✅ Good: Recent advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping how medical care is delivered (Smith, 2023).

Collaboration Boundaries

Allowed Not Allowed
Discussing concepts Sharing code/answers
Explaining concepts Writing for each other
Debugging help Copying solutions
Study groups Splitting assignment work

Rule of thumb: Your submitted work must reflect your understanding.

GenAI and Academic Integrity

The Challenge

Tool Risk
ChatGPT/Claude Generating essays/code
GitHub Copilot Writing code solutions
Grammarly Over-editing beyond grammar
Translation tools Bypassing language requirements

Institutional Policies Vary

Policy Type Description
Ban No GenAI use at all
Cite Allow with citation
Disclose Acknowledge use in appendix
Integrate Teach responsible use

Responsible GenAI Use

✅ Acceptable ❌ Unacceptable
Brainstorming topics Generating final text
Explaining concepts Submitting AI output as yours
Code explanation Submitting ununderstood code
Grammar checking Full translation/rewrite

Best practice: "I used ChatGPT to brainstorm outline ideas. All writing and analysis is my own."

Detection & Consequences

Detection Methods

  • Turnitin, SafeAssign, iThenticate
  • AI detectors (GPTZero, etc.) — unreliable
  • Stylometric analysis
  • Student interviews

Typical Penalties

Offense First Repeat
Minor plagiarism Zero on assignment Course failure
Major plagiarism Course failure Suspension
Exam cheating Course failure Expulsion
Fabrication Course failure Expulsion

Best Practices for Students

  1. Start early — rush leads to shortcuts
  2. Track sources — Zotero, Mendeley, or simple spreadsheet
  3. Cite as you write — don't leave for later
  4. Understand paraphrasing — practice the technique
  5. Ask when unsure — professor > guesswork
  6. Know your policy — read the syllabus/handbook

For Instructors

Prevention Detection Response
Clear expectations Turnitin/similar Consistent rubric
Scaffold assignments Compare to past work Educational conversation
In-class writing Stylometric flags Proportional penalty
Process grading Oral defense if needed Learning opportunity

Resources