What Is Self-Plagiarism?

As a student, you’ve likely heard the term “plagiarism” countless times, but there’s another form of plagiarism that can be just as problematic: self-plagiarism. Let’s examine self-plagiarism, why it’s a problem, and how to avoid it.

Examples of Self-Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism occurs when you reuse your previously published work (or a significant portion) without adequately citing or acknowledging the original source. Some common examples include:

• Submitting the same paper or assignment for multiple classes without permission
• Republishing an article or book chapter in a new publication without proper attribution
• Copying verbatim sections from a previous work you’ve written without citing yourself
• Reusing data, visuals, or other content from your own prior research without reference

Self-plagiarism Examples

Here are a couple of examples of self-plagiarism:

Reusing data from a previous study

As you prepare your dissertation on the impact of government subsidies on small businesses, you realize you can utilize the data you collected for a research project in one of your graduate seminars last year. The data is directly relevant to your dissertation topic, and it would save you significant time and effort to simply incorporate those findings into your current work.

Simultaneous submission

You have conducted extensive research on the impact of the recent economic recession on small businesses in your local community. Eager to get your findings published, you decide to submit your research paper to multiple relevant academic journals at the same time.

Reusing Your Own Dataset Without Attribution

As you begin research for a new academic paper on the effects of national healthcare policies, you realize that a portion of the dataset you used in a previously published article would be highly relevant and beneficial to include in your current analysis. Since it was data you originally collected and analyzed yourself, you don’t see any issue with simply incorporating those findings into your new work.

Why Is Self-Plagiarism Wrong?

While self-plagiarism may not be viewed as harshly as copying the work of others, it is still considered a breach of academic integrity. There are several key reasons why self-plagiarism is problematic:

• Lack of Originality: Reusing your previously published material without proper attribution prevents you from generating new, original work. This goes against the fundamental purpose of academic research, which is to advance knowledge through innovative thinking and analysis.

• Copyright Infringement: If your work is formally published, such as in a journal or book, you may no longer hold the copyright to that content. Reusing it without permission could constitute copyright infringement, even if you were the original author.

• Misrepresentation of Research: Passing off your prior work as new undermines the transparency and honesty expected in scholarly pursuits. It misrepresents the true scope and nature of your research contributions.

• Damage to Academic Standards: Self-plagiarism, even if unintentional, erodes the high academic rigor and integrity standards that institutions strive to uphold. It can call into question the legitimacy and reliability of one’s overall body of work.

While there may be instances where limited reuse of your own material is acceptable, such as building upon previous research, you must always properly cite and attribute that usage. Failure to do so constitutes self-plagiarism, which is considered a form of academic dishonesty with potentially serious consequences. Maintaining the highest ethical standards in your work is crucial for preserving the credibility of your scholarship.

How to Cite Yourself Properly

The good news is that self-plagiarism is easily avoidable if you follow standard citation practices. Whenever you want to reuse content from your own prior work, make sure to:

• Clearly reference the original source, providing a citation that includes the author (you), title, publication date, and other relevant details.
• Use quotation marks around any verbatim passages you’ve reused.
• Paraphrase content in your own words rather than copying large blocks of text.
• Get permission from instructors or publishers if reusing work from a previous class or publication.

How Educational Institutions Detect Self-Plagiarism

Most universities and colleges use plagiarism detection software like Turnitin to screen student work for copying, whether from external sources or the student’s own prior submissions. These tools can quickly identify matching text, even if minor changes have been made.

Instructors are also often experienced at spotting self-plagiarism, primarily if they’ve previously graded your work. They may notice abrupt changes in writing style or suspiciously similar content between assignments.

The bottom line is that self-plagiarism is taken very seriously in academic settings. It’s simply not worth the risk – the best approach is to cite your previous work appropriately when building on it.