I have a small business and I specialize in research & writing. My mother suggests that I could offer the service of researching for term papers, thesis or dissertations. I thought it the purpose of those documents to go through the research exercise. I usually don't question my mother, but ....???
2006-09-11 13:33:31 · 14 answers · asked by ? 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
O.K. this is getting pretty confusing.
I need source citations if available - both sides.
2006-09-11 13:54:02 · update #1
This is confusing because the two people who have mentioned that research is done by third parties - or is ethical - are also the people who have submitted Thesis papers or Dissertations.
That is why I'm asking for source citations.
2006-09-11 14:46:17 · update #2
It is patently unethical. I hold a Ph.D., and I direct the theses and dissertations of graduate students, as well as the honors theses of undergraduates.
If I discovered that one of my students used such a service, I would refuse to let them submit their thesis/dissertation.
The process of research is an essential part of composing the thesis/dissertation. Using the services of another person constitutes academic dishonesty.
2006-09-11 15:53:00 · answer #1 · answered by X 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Why is this confusing? You know the old saying, "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Either you take money for helping people cheat or you can take the high road. Make no mistake, it is cheating. The purpose of assigning a research paper is to assess not only your students' ability to write a cogent paper but also to test their ability to find information and ferret out what is important to their thesis.
2006-09-11 14:29:16 · answer #2 · answered by KM 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am in college right now. Believe that a student or faculty member who hires someone to do their work for them is cheating themselves and the person that they are hiring out of a lot of valuable time and experience unless the person hired is as interested in the topic as the person doing the hiring. If there is not the same passion for the topic between the two parties then it is not worth it to go through the research process.
2006-09-11 13:40:35 · answer #3 · answered by deahwest 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not unethical as long as you clearly delineate who did what.
For example for my masters thesis I used a research company for part of the project. They were listed as contributors and in the bibliography.
You can not claim their work as your own.
Added: My best advice is to have each student individually discuss it with their research counselor.
Added: Sorry, I don't think that you are going to find a reference that gives you a black or white, cut and dry answer to your question.
All I have is my personal experience. I had large project. Over 300 pages of text derived from almost 2000 references. There was no way to do the research on my own.
I would imagine that it is similar to hiring a research assistant. In your proposal you name the assistant, assign responsibilities and identify their work.
2006-09-11 13:37:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you that the research is part of the purpose, and so the ethics of it are questionable. Good for you for questioning the ethics, instead of just jumping into it for the money like a lot of people would.
2006-09-11 13:37:07 · answer #5 · answered by Samantha W 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's good that you questioned your mother. While it was sweet of her to think of you and keep your needs in mind, it WOULD be unethical of you to do the research for students. You're right- the point of writing the paper is to find and utilize information to support an idea. If you do all the work, they're not really learning anything.
2006-09-11 13:40:26 · answer #6 · answered by elizabeth_ashley44 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think that's a gray area. Students should do their own work, but just helping them with the research may be okay. I had a friend who used to have our secretary do his research for him, but I never felt comfortable asking her to do that for me.
2006-09-11 13:37:33 · answer #7 · answered by Benjamin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the Student doesn't do their own research, than they will be doing themselves a major disservice, by not learning how to properly research for themselves. Years later, if them happen to get a job that requires them to do research, they're gonna have to pay someone, or be screwed.
2006-09-11 13:38:07 · answer #8 · answered by M L 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. It's not in any way ethical. It's the same as writing the paper for them. Well, not the same, but the principle is the same.
2006-09-11 13:39:27 · answer #9 · answered by Melissa 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No it is not ethical, your mother is wrong, and students need to learn to do the work themselves.
2006-09-11 13:43:40 · answer #10 · answered by daryavaush 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋