Title: Understanding the Fundamental Values of Academic Integrity

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Introduction

Lesson 1: Understanding the fundamental values of academic integrity (AI)

Please select the sidebar’s tabs on the left or use the navigations controls to progress through the lesson.

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It should take you approximately 10 minutes to complete the lesson.

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Learning outcomes:

- Understand the fundamental values of academic integrity (ICAI, n.d.).
- Identify strategies for maintaining academic integrity.
- Appreciate why integrity is important as a student in STEM and in one’s professional career.
- Recognize acceptable and unacceptable practices in one’s academic & professional life.

Understanding the fundamental values of academic integrity

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Definitions

OED

The Oxford English Dictionary (n.d.) defines integrity as:

- "Moral uprightness, honesty."
- "Wholeness, completeness."
- "Soundness, unimpaired or uncorrupted condition."

These characteristics can define our personal character.

ICAI

The International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI) defines integrity as: “a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to six fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage.” (ICAI, n.d.)

ICAI has studied academic integrity, developed educational resources, and identified a set of values that support academic integrity.

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Keep in mind!

Academic integrity is expected of all students, faculty, and staff.

ⓘ The definitions in this module represent the standards and expectations of North American educational traditions and professional practice.

Academic integrity values

There are SIX fundamental values that constitute academic integrity (ICAI, n.d.).

1. Honesty

Honesty

Honesty is defined by “truthfulness”, “openness”, “candidness”, being “genuine”, and “without the intention to deceive” (Oxford English Dictionary, n.d.).

- You demonstrate honesty by: being truthful, direct, and transparent with your thoughts and actions.

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2. Trust

Trust

Trust is defined by “reliability”, “loyalty”, and having “confidence” in someone (Oxford English Dictionary, n.d.).

- You demonstrate trust by: being reliable, honest, dependable and consistent.

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3. Fairness

Fairness

Fairness is defined by “impartiality”, “honesty”, and “equitableness” (Oxford English Dictionary, n.d.).

- You demonstrate fairness by: acting without favouritism or bias.

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4. Respect

Respect

Respect is defined by “consideration”, “regard”, and “care” (Oxford English Dictionary, n.d.)

- You demonstrate respect by: displaying patience, regard for others, listening, and following the rules.

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5. Responsibility

Responsibility

Responsibility is defined by “reliability”, “fulfilling an obligation”, and being “trustworthy” (Oxford English
Dictionary, n.d.).

- You demonstrate responsibility by: taking charge of your own decisions and actions, and by being accountable.

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6. Courage

Courage

Courage is defined by “bravery”, “boldness”, and “confidence” (Oxford English Dictionary, n.d.).

- You demonstrate courage by: speaking up when we see things that are wrong, unfair, or disrespectful.

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Check your knowledge

A number of these values are interconnected, which means sometimes you cannot have one without the other.

For example, it is hard to imagine honesty without trust or fairness without respect.

Check your knowledge

Fill in the blank boxes with the value involved in each scenario.

Q: Your friend hasn’t finished their assignment that is due tomorrow. They want to copy your assignment and hand it in as their own. You need to have [...] to say “no” to a friend and protect your own work.

You are struggling to complete your midterm online and consider looking at your course notes, even though they are not allowed to be used. You decide to complete the midterm without your course notes to ensure [...] to others who studied for the exam.

Your instructor has given you a difficult problem to solve. You are tempted to look up the solution online, but you instead reach out to your TA for help. This shows that you are taking [...] for your own learning.
A: courage; fairness; responsibility

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Academic integrity versus academic dishonesty

Academic misconduct or dishonesty are actually the opposite of academic integrity.

Students engage in academic misconduct when they:

- Get someone else to complete their academic work.
- Copy from others.
- Use unauthorized aids in a test or exam.
- Impersonate someone else in an exam.
- Do academic work for others.
- Look up test questions online.
- Work together when they are supposed to complete work individually.

Statistically, most students do not engage in academic misconduct (Scrimpshire et al., 2017). Very few purposefully cheat to get ahead. In fact, many students express their outrage and disappointment at classmates who break the rules.

By demonstrating the six basic values, you uphold academic integrity in your educational pursuits and avoid academic misconduct. In addition, these fundamental values promote your personal integrity outside of school, such as in your relationships, clubs and organizations, and your jobs.

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Keep in mind!

Academic courses can be challenging.

ⓘ Everyone at one time or another has either considered or engaged in academic misconduct.

Strategies for Maintaining Academic Integrity (AI)

Identifying AI strategies

Now that you’ve learned about the six values of integrity (honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage), let’s look at ways you can apply these as a student.

Review your knowledge

Q: Review your knowledge

The six values are not just for students. Who else should also apply them? Please select all that apply.
- A) Friends.
- B) Instructors. (correct)
- C) Faculty. (correct)
- D) Directors.
- E) Researchers. (correct)

The values in action

The values in action Let's examine how would the values of integrity look like for a student.

Turn each value card to learn more.

Q: Honesty
A: Asking questions when you are confused or unclear about instructions.

Q: Trust
A: Completing your work on your own and not having anyone else do it for you.

Q: Fairness
A: Writing an online exam without looking up the answers.

Q: Respect
A: Handing your work in on time.

Q: Responsibility
A: Following your instructor’s expectations.

Q: Courage
A: Saying no to a friend who asks you to engage in misconduct, asking for help when you need it!

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Accidental academic offences

Some students commit academic misconduct unknowingly or despite their best intentions because it can be difficult to know what would be considered an academic offence.

Consider the following and reflect on your own:

- Is it allowed according to course syllabus? Yes or No?
- Has the instructor given their permission? Yes or No?
- Did you do the work yourself? Yes or No?
- Will others have the same advantages as you to complete their work or test? Yes or No?
- Can you reproduce the work on your own? Yes or No?
- Have you cited your sources of information? Yes or No?

If you answered No to one or more of the above, then it is likely an academic offence.

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Keep in mind!

Different instructors allow different things in their courses. It is up to you to make sure you know the expectations in each course.

When in doubt - ask your instructor and find out! Instructors and TAs are there to help you!

Check your understanding

Q: Check your understanding

What can you do to keep track of your instructor’s expectations?
A: - Review course syllabus at start of the term, noting assignment expectations.
- Keep each course syllabus nearby or know where to find it.
- Know the best way to communicate with your instructor and TA.
- Make use of tutorials and office hours. Take accurate notes.
- Find out what citation style to use.
- Ask your instructor and TA questions.

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Intentional academic offences

Sometimes students knowingly commit academic offences, particularly when they:

- Feel pressure to get a good mark.
- Feel unprepared for a test.
- Think that “checking” answers or looking for solutions is not really cheating.
- Think they are helping a friend.
- Think they can get away with it.
- Think their peers are cheating.
- Think that cheating doesn’t hurt anyone.
- Are not invested in the course.
- Are focused on the final grade but not on having a good understanding of the material.

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Let’s reflect on how cheating hurts yourself and others.

- Cheating is unfair to your classmates who put time and effort into their courses.
- By purchasing work from external sources, you put yourself at risk of these sources taking advantage of your personal/payment information.
- It puts others at risk if you are claiming to have a credential or knowledge that you cannot demonstrate.
- It degrades the reputation of your school and the value of your degree.

Keep in mind!

ⓘ Most campuses have many FREE student supports! Before you spend money online or look outside of your educational institution for help, be sure to explore all the options offered by your school! These supports are provided by professional and reliable resources that are legitimate and are affiliated with your institution.

Check your knowledge

Q: Check your knowledge

What strategies below might you use when you are feeling unprepared or pressured to get good grades? Please select all that apply.
- A) Attend a party.
- B) Ask the instructor for help. (correct)
- C) Go to study skills and time management workshops. (correct)
- D) Talk to an academic advisor or find tutor. (correct)
- E) Consider cheating.
- F) Use stress management tools (e.g., physical activity centres, mindfulness, recreational, etc.). (correct)

Academic integrity and your professional career

Academic integrity is vital

To appreciate why integrity is essential for you as a student in STEM and your professional career, let’s look at some of the consequences of working without integrity.

Consequences of an AI offence

Surfside condominium building collapse which occurred on June 24, 2021.

Surfside condominium building collapse which occurred on June 24, 2021. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. The original uploader was TheEpicGhosty at English Wikipedia. - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.

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Student integrity

As a student you are expected to complete your studies by acting with integrity.

This means that the work you submit is completed honestly and fairly and in accordance with the expectations set out by your instructor. The degree you earn through honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage will be a true representation of your accomplishments.

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Positive academic effects of integrity

Learning content deeply only comes from putting in hard work and effort which helps you:

- Build foundational knowledge that will be required for future courses.
- Make connections across concepts.
- Solve new problems.

ⓘ Students who obtain their degrees honestly also have a better chance of success in graduate school or professional practice, where demonstrating one’s competency in the subject matters more than grades.

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Negative academic effects of dishonesty

Because the knowledge you obtain in one STEM course becomes the foundational knowledge for the next, taking short cuts means that you are robbing yourself of the opportunity to develop a deep understanding of material that will help you succeed in future courses.

ⓘ The continued use of dishonest habits can be extremely hard to break as your courses become harder and you begin your professional career.

Check your knowledge

Q: Check your knowledge

Why is academic integrity important in your education? Select all that apply.
- A) Committing an academic integrity offence can lead to serious consequences, such as grade reduction or suspension. (correct)
- B) Taking short cuts in learning STEM material can lead to poor outcomes in future courses. (correct)
- C) The concepts I learn in my courses will benefit me in my future career. (correct)
- D) It ensures I am demonstrating respect for my instructor’s rules and maintains their trust in me as a student. (correct)
- E) It will make me popular with the instructors.

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Professional integrity

Students who act with integrity are also building foundations for ethical decision making in their future professional lives.

Skills such as making difficult ethical decisions, asking questions, and following instructions are important for your success and reputation in your future career.  Many of the obligations and ethics required for your profession rely on well-developed decision-making skills and ethical judgement.

For example, Canadian engineers wear the Iron Ring as a reminder of the obligations and ethics associated with their profession and the Hippocratic Oath is an oath of ethics taken by physicians.

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Positive professional effects of integrity

The confidence, skills, and abilities you bring to your future profession are just some of the benefits you will receive from the hard work you put in now. The problems you will be tasked to solve often do not have solutions that can be looked up, so developing independent problem-solving skills is critical to developing your success and positions you to make positive contributions to society.

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Negative professional effects of integrity

Dishonesty in a professional setting can have direct consequences, such as losing your job or professional designation, but there are other, more nuanced, negative effects as well. Insufficient expertise can reduce your job performance and satisfaction.

An individual’s ethical lapse can:

- Lead to negative or disastrous events.
- Expose you, your team or company to litigation.
- Cause wide ranging societal impacts.
- Increase your own stress and anxiety.

Professional integrity in Computer Science

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In computer science you develop important skills, such as:

- Analytical thinking.
- Creative problem solving.
- The ability to troubleshoot.

This means your degree is applicable across a variety of organizations. Ethical issues are becoming increasingly important as technology and society intersect. Consequently, computer scientists have a duty to consider justice, equity, and other social concerns in their day-to-day work.

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Real-world example

Privacy rights are a fundamental right of each person, and as such institutions are governed by rules which dictate how they collect and use personal information. In 2019, Facebook was ordered to pay an unprecedented $5 billion penalty for deceiving consumers about their ability to control the privacy of their personal information (FTC, 2019).

More than 185 million people in Canada and USA use Facebook daily (FTC, 2019). Facebook’s revenues largely come from the monetization of user information through targeted advertising. To encourage more information to be shared on its platform, Facebook guaranteed users that their personal information could be controlled through privacy settings (FTC, 2019). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleged that Facebook used deceptive disclosures and settings to undermine users’ privacy preferences and that these tactics allowed the company to share personal information with third-party apps (FTC, 2019). The FTC also alleged that users were not aware or informed of this sharing of their information and therefore could not take the steps to safeguard themselves (FTC, 2019).

In addition to the fine, Facebook was ordered to restructure its approach to privacy, implement mechanisms to ensure executives are held accountable for their decisions, and increase oversight of privacy decisions (FTC, 2019).

Professional integrity in computer science

Professional integrity in engineering

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In Canada, the professional engineer (P.Eng.) designation represents the highest standards of engineering knowledge, experience, and professionalism in the country. This designation is only achieved after meeting numerous criteria, including the successful completion of a law and ethics exam. An engineer’s ability to problem-solve, design solutions, and work in team settings, means your degree is applicable in a variety of settings. It also means you have a responsibility to act ethically.

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Real-world example

The Algo Mall collapse in Elliot Lake, Ontario is a good example of the tragic consequences that can result when engineers perform their duties inadequately and unethically.

On June 23, 2012, a section of the rooftop parking deck of Algo Mall collapsed, bringing concrete, steel, drywall, glass, and a vehicle crashing down on 2 floors of the mall below. Two people were killed and 19 were injured (The Globe and Mail, 2014).

An engineer had declared the building to be structurally sound only two months earlier, so how could this have happened? It was later discovered that the engineer, Robert Wood, had cut corners during his inspection (The Globe and Mail, 2014).  Wood’s report was reviewed by another P.Eng. at his firm, who signed off on it despite never visiting the mall himself. After the report was approved, Wood made further changes to it, removing details about important water leaks at the request of the mall’s owner (The Globe and Mail, 2014).

A Public Inquiry condemned Wood’s actions, the media branded him a “disgraced engineer,” and he was charged with multiple counts of criminal negligence (The Globe and Mail, 2014).

Professional integrity in engineering

Professional integrity in math

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The skills you obtain through your math degree, such as mathematical reasoning and complex problem solving, means your degree is applicable across a variety of organizations.

Many math degrees are nationally accredited, which act as attestations to a candidate’s knowledge and skills in a particular discipline. It also means you have a responsibility to act ethically.

It may be tempting to think of mathematics as a discipline that is purely abstract, but the work of mathematicians impacts other people anywhere mathematic methods and calculations are used. Therefore, it is as important for mathematicians to consider the ethical implications of their work as it is for engineers, computer scientists, and other professionals.

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Real-world example

The LIBOR rigging scandal is an example of a situation where mathematicians, more focused on the numbers than the impact of their work, engaged in serious unethical behaviour. The London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is used as a benchmark interest rate by financial organizations all over the world. The rate is calculated by averaging interest rates from multiple participant banks (CFR, 2016).

In 2012, it was discovered that some of these participant institutions had been reporting fraudulent numbers in order to control the LIBOR rate (CFR, 2016). With trillions of dollars linked to the LIBOR rate world-wide, this scandal had serious implications and is considered by some to be the biggest financial fraud in history.

One of the people at the center of this scandal was Tom Hayes, a mathematician who worked for UBS and Citigroup in Japan (Financial Post, 2015). The nature of the trading activities Hayes was involved in meant that shifting LIBOR rates had the power to increase or decrease the success of his trades, his bank’s profits, and his own personal bonuses. By working with and/or bribing traders at other banks, Hayes was able to rig the LIBOR rate in a way that improved his numbers (Financial Post, 2015).

By focusing exclusively on the numbers, Hayes failed to see the ethical implications of his actions. By fixing the LIBOR rates to fit his own needs, Hayes and the other LIBOR scandal conspirators impacted the interest rates paid by students with student loans, homeowners with mortgages, businesses with loans, and many others.

Tom Hayes was convicted of 8 counts of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to 14 years in prison (Financial Post, 2015).

Professional integrity in math

Professional integrity in science

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As science becomes increasingly interconnected with social and philosophical issues, scientists become more accountable to society.

Society puts a great deal of trust in the integrity of individual researchers, therefore working with integrity while adhering to professional ethics is of utmost importance in this profession.

When scientific researchers engage in unethical research practices like fabricating, falsifying, or misrepresenting research data they risk their own reputations as researchers, but they may also risk damaging the public’s trust in the scientific community.

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Real-world example

The retraction of two high-profile COVID-19 studies in May of 2020 is one example of how bad research practices can shake the public’s confidence in science.

On May 22, 2020, highly respected medical journal, The Lancet, published scientific research which suggested that a controversial antimalaria treatment for COVID-19 was ineffective and even caused fatal heart problems in patients who received the drug (Science, 2020). In light of these findings, the World Health Organization paused its clinical trials of the treatment, and national governments changed their COVID-19 treatment policies (Science, 2020).

When other researchers in the scientific community began reporting inconsistencies in the study’s data, it became clear that the paper’s co-authors had not reviewed the source of the data themselves (Science, 2020). When they requested the dataset from Surgisphere, who provided the data for the research from a large database of hospital patient records, they were denied access to the data. With Surgisphere unwilling or unable to verify the authenticity of the data, the articles were retracted from both journals (Science, 2020).

The falsification of data is an obvious unethical practice, but the co-authors who supported the data without knowing much about where it came from also behaved unethically. These actions caused organizations to pause legitimate clinical trials, caused governments to make unnecessary and potentially dangerous changes to health policies, and left the public to wonder whether or not scientists really knew what they were doing after all.

Professional integrity in science

Check your knowledge

Q: Check your knowledge

Select all that apply. By working with integrity, you:
- A) Create trust. (correct) (Thank you for taking the time to reflect! Developing good academic integrity habits now can ensure you are knowledgeable in your subject area and are a trustworthy and honest colleague and member of society.)
- B) Gain respect. (correct) (Thank you for taking the time to reflect! Developing good academic integrity habits now can ensure you are knowledgeable in your subject area and are a trustworthy and honest colleague and member of society.)
- C) Develop a good reputation. (correct) (Thank you for taking the time to reflect! Developing good academic integrity habits now can ensure you are knowledgeable in your subject area and are a trustworthy and honest colleague and member of society.)
- D) Are perceived as reliable. (correct) (Thank you for taking the time to reflect! Developing good academic integrity habits now can ensure you are knowledgeable in your subject area and are a trustworthy and honest colleague and member of society.)
- E) Take credit for other’s work. (Incorrect. Please reflect again. Developing good academic integrity habits now can ensure you are knowledgeable in your subject area and are a trustworthy and honest colleague and member of society.)

Module 1: wrap up

In this module you learned about:

- The six fundamental values of academic integrity (as per ICAI).
- Various academic offences in education and why some students commit academic offences.
- The importance of maintaining integrity as a student and as a professional.
- Possible consequences of professionals who don’t perform their duties adequately and ethically.

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Congratulations!

You’ve completed the 1st Academic Integrity in STEM module.

References

Council on Foreign Relations. (2018, October 12). Understanding the Libor Scandal. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/understanding-libor-scandal

Federal Trade Commission. (2019, June 24). FTC Imposes $5 Billion Penalty and Sweeping New Privacy Restrictions on Facebook. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2019/07/ftc-imposes-5-billion-penalty-sweeping-new-privacy-restrictions

Financial Post. (2015, August 4). Inside the Libor scandal: The story of how Tom Hayes manipulated the Libor market and ultimately lost. https://financialpost.com/news/fp-street/inside-the-libor-scandal-the-story-of-how-tom-hayes-manipulated-the-libor-market-and-ultimately-lost

The Globe and Mail. (2014, January 31). Police charge engineer in fatal Elliot Lake mall collapse. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/engineer-charged-in-fatal-elliot-lake-mall-collapse/article16627314/

International Centre for Academic Integrity (ICAI). (n.d.). About the Centre. https://academicintegrity.org/about/about-the-centre

International Centre for Academic Integrity (ICAI). (n.d.). Fundamental Values. https://academicintegrity.org/resources/fundamental-values

Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.) Courage. Retrieved August 12, 2021 from https://www.oed.com/

Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.) Fairness. Retrieved August 12, 2021 from https://www.oed.com/

Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.) Honesty. Retrieved August 12, 2021 from https://www.oed.com/

Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.) Integrity. Retrieved August 12, 2021 from https://www.oed.com/

Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.) Respect. Retrieved August 12, 2021 from https://www.oed.com/

Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.) Responsibility. Retrieved August 12, 2021 from https://www.oed.com/

Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.) Trust. Retrieved August 12, 2021 from https://www.oed.com/

Science. (2020, June 24). Two elite medical journals retract coronavirus papers over data integrity questions. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/two-elite-medical-journals-retract-coronavirus-papers-over-data-integrity-questions

Scrimpshire, A., Stone, T., Kisamore, J., & Jawahar, I.M. (2017). Do Birds of a Feather Cheat Together? How Personality and Relationships Affect Student Cheating. Journal of Academic Ethics, 15(1), 1-22. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/10.1007/s10805-016-9267-5

Credit and licensing

Content Creators: Amanda McKenzie, Erin Nearing, Maria Barichello, Stephanie Mutch, Mike Chee, and Kari D. Weaver.

Instructional and Graphic Designers: Stefaniada Voichita, Hiba Zubairi, Cathy Sebastian, Anthony Maocheia-Ricci, Mike Chee, and Kari D. Weaver.

Additional feedback was generously contributed by many faculty, staff, and students at the University of Waterloo, McMaster University, Queen’s University, and the University of Guelph.

This module was created with financial support from a 2021 eCampus Ontario Virtual Learning Strategy Grant and is licensed under a Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution-Non Commercial License (CC 4.0 BY-NC).

Attribution may be indicated as follows:
McKenzie, A., Nearing, E., Barichello, M., Mutch, S., Weaver, K. D., Voichita, S., Chee, M., Zubairi, H., Sebastian, C., & Maocheia-Ricci, A. (2022). Understanding the fundamental values of academic integrity. eCampus Ontario. Link to repository. Used under CC 4.0 BY-NC.

For more information or to request permission for a non-licensed use, please email academic.integrity@uwaterloo.ca

Territorial acknowledgement

This project was led by individuals who live and work in Waterloo, which is the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo’s main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office .