Economics & Econometrics Seminar Series presents
Plagiarism in the Social Sciences
Dr. Gary A. Hoover, Tulane University
Friday, April 5, 2024
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
307 Tier Building
This presentation reports the results of a survey of economics journal editors about their definition of plagiarism and known cases. They found that nearly 24% of responding editors encountered one case of plagiarism in a typical year. In addition, this presentation reports the results of another survey of 1,200 professionals in the economics profession. That survey found that many of the respondents were not aware of the distinction between copyright infringement and plagiarism. In addition, that survey found that a substantial portion of the reported cases of plagiarism could be classified as ‘hierarchal’. In addition, this presentation reports the results of a follow-up survey of social science journal editors. That work investigated what, if anything, has changed in regards to how journal editors react to suspected plagiarism and if the definition of plagiarism has changed. There is great variation within disciplines regarding the appropriate definition of plagiarism or punishments but fairly consistent agreement across disciplines.