Last updated on Friday, October 13th, 2023

The Research Methodology Plagiarism in the academic research paper defines the process, approach to attain the objectives, how data is collected for the results & analysis. In my earlier article “Article Writing Format for Beginners to Moderate Learners,” I have discussed all components of the research articles. In a sequential way, the next article was focused on the “research problem at which the researcher stuck, that is writing an introduction of a research paper.

Research Methodology Plagiarism

Research Methodology for Different Disciplines

In theoretical subjects like arts, humanities, business, management, science, and technology, there exist standard processes and procedures in research methodology. Researchers can employ these standard procedures for various objectives, adjusting parameters as needed.

Different research areas utilize a common survey methodology tailored to specific purposes. Bibliometric and scientometric approaches are commonly applied in various research fields, allowing researchers to study diverse objectives using similar approaches. Theoretical modeling is also accepted in science, with researchers often enhancing established models for their objectives.

Researchers can globally utilize a standard model endorsed by the scientific community for their research objectives, provided they update methodology components and properly cite the original source.

Plagiarism in Research Methodology

When researchers employ a similar research methodology while giving proper credit to the original source and adapt it for their own unique research objectives, it does not constitute plagiarism.

In the fields of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, researchers often utilize both established and new equations within standard models, diligently acknowledging their sources. When incorporating equations from other theoretical models or observations, proper citation is essential. Regarding the placement of references for standard equations, especially in mathematics, it ultimately depends on the author’s chosen approach. References can be positioned either at the beginning of the equation within the text or at the end.

FAQ Research Methodology Plagiarism

1Question: What is plagiarism in methodology?

Answer: Plagiarism in methodology is considered a serious ethical violation in research. Properly crediting the original source is essential to maintain academic integrity and give credit to those who have contributed. Researchers are expected to provide clear citations and references when they use ideas/content from other sources.

2Question: How do you detect plagiarism in research methodology?
Answer: Proper citation and acknowledgment are essential to avoid any perception of plagiarism. It’s important to note that unintentional similarities may sometimes occur in research methodologies due to the use of standardized methods or well-established practices in a particular field.

3. Question: What are the problems with plagiarism in research methodology?
Answer: Here are some of the key problems associated with plagiarism;
1. Loss of Academic Integrity: Researchers are expected to contribute original ideas and methodologies to the body of knowledge in their field.
2. Misrepresentation of Work: Plagiarism misrepresents the true contributions and expertise of a researcher.
3. Damage to Reputation: Researchers who engage in plagiarism risk significant damage to their professional reputation. Once discovered, instances of plagiarism can tarnish a researcher’s credibility and trustworthiness.
4. Erosion of Trust: Other researchers may become skeptical of a plagiarizer’s work and collaborations may be strained.
5. Stifling Innovation: When researchers copy existing methodologies rather than developing their own, it hinders progress in the field.
6. Inaccurate Research: Plagiarized methodologies may not be accurately described or understood, leading to errors and inaccuracies in research findings. This can have real-world consequences, especially in fields with practical applications.
7. Unfair Competition: Plagiarism creates an unfair competitive advantage for those who engage in it. Legitimate researchers may find it challenging to compete with plagiarized work.
8. Detriment to Students: Students who plagiarize research methodologies as part of their academic coursework may not develop essential research skills and ethical values.
9. Legal and Ethical Consequences: Plagiarism can have legal consequences, including copyright infringement and potential legal actions by the original authors or institutions.
10. Damage to Journals and Publishers: Plagiarized research damages the reputation of journals and publishers that unwittingly publish plagiarized work.
11. Waste of Resources: Plagiarized research consumes resources, including time, funding, and peer review efforts, which could have been allocated to legitimate research.

4.Question: What is plagiarism and self-plagiarism in research methodology?

Answer: Here’s what each term means;
Plagiarism occurs when a researcher copies or closely imitates the research methods, procedures, or approaches used in someone else’s work without proper attribution or permission. This can involve using the same research design, data collection methods, survey instruments, experimental procedures, or other elements of research methodology as another researcher’s work without giving credit.

Self-plagiarism in research methodology occurs when a researcher reuses their own previously published or submitted research methodology in a new publication without proper citation or permission. This can involve using the same research methodology, experimental design, or data collection methods in multiple papers without disclosing the overlap or providing appropriate references to the original work.

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5. Question: What are the 4 common types of plagiarism?

Answer: 1. Direct Plagiarism 2. Self-Plagiarism 3. Paraphrasing Plagiarism 4. Patchwork Plagiarism

6. Question: What are the causes of plagiarism?

Answer: 

Lack of Awareness
Academic Pressure
Inadequate Research Skills
Language Barriers
Procrastination
Pressure to Publish
Cut-and-Paste Culture
Lack of Motivation or Interest
Fear of Criticism
Unethical Mentoring or Peer Pressure

7. Question: Why is plagiarism important in research?

Answer: To promote the original work and credits to the original source to recall the successive progress of any research work.

8. Question: What is the main point of plagiarism?

Answer: Mentioned its answer in above paragraph

9. Question: What are the characteristics of plagiarism?

Answer:

Not providing citations, references, or acknowledgments.
Copying text or content word-for-word from another source without enclosing the copied text in quotation marks and providing a citation.
Paraphrasing someone else’s work without proper attribution
Ideas should be attributed to their originators
Reusing research methodologies, data, or text from a previous publication
A patchwork of borrowed material without acknowledgment
Inaccurate citations
Inventing or falsifying sources or references
Not properly credited to all contributors
Recycles or repurposes their own previous work without proper citation

10. Question: What are the problems with plagiarism?

Answer: Its answer is easy now to understand. In one word Academic Integrity and Honesty.

Conclusion

1. The research methodology that is a standard model/approach/technique can be used by many researchers.
2. If one researcher publishing the same/similar problems in the different journals then it can be counted as self-plagiarism, but finally depends on the editor and publishers. How did their publication policy consider it?
3. The researcher should avoid copy & paste practice if they are using the first time any standard methodology.

Disclaimer:

This post is related to the plagiarism of the research methodology used in two different research papers. These points are shared for the awareness of research ethics. If at any point you have any doubt or question please feel free to discuss.