Academic Integrity Guide Ask Us

What is Academic Integrity?

Based on International Center for Academic Integrity and Donald McCabe, academic integrity represents the moral value and ethical standard upheld within academia. It is the commitment to honesty, trustworthiness, fairness, respect, and responsibility in all scholarly activities.

Purpose: Promotes ethical conduct in scholarly activities including research, learning, and academic achievements.

Outcome: Builds an environment of trust and excellence in scholarship and education.

Importance of Academic Integrity

Fairness and Trust: Ensures that success is based on individual effort and ability.

Credibility: Maintains trust among students, educators, and institutions, preserving the integrity of academic institutions.

Personal Development: Encourages ethical decision-making and reinforces honesty in all life aspects.

Academic Integrity at UNB

Resources: Visit Academic Offence and watch these videos on academic integrity at UNB.

Core Value: Considered a cornerstone of the institution.

Expectations: Students must understand plagiarism and its consequences.

Understanding Plagiarism

Types: Includes quoting without acknowledgment, adopting others' work, or submitting work not one's own.

Consequences: Vary based on whether the act was intentional or due to misunderstanding.

Handling Plagiarism

Unintentional: Possible resubmission with penalties.

Intentional: Escalated for review, may result in transcript notations, assignment reworks, failing grades, or expulsion for severe or repeated cases.

This guide is inspired and adopted from the following resources:

articles and report:

Cope, B., Kalantzis, M., & Searsmith, D. (2021). Artificial intelligence for education: Knowledge and its assessment in AI-enabled learning ecologies. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 53(12), 1229–1245. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2020.1728732

Cotton, D. R. E., Cotton, P. A., & Shipway, J. R. (2024). Chatting and cheating: Ensuring academic integrity in the era of ChatGPT. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 61(2), 228–239. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2023.2190148

Fedden, V. (2023). Artificial Intelligence: 7 Things College Students Need to Know Before Using AI

Floridi, L., & Cowls, J. (2019). A Unified Framework of Five Principles for AI in Society. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1162/99608f92.8cd550d1

Hill, M. (2022). Simple Methods for Maintaining Academic Integrity

Jobin, A., Ienca, M., & Vayena, E. (2019). The global landscape of AI ethics guidelines. Nature Machine Intelligence, 1, 389–399. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42256-019-0088-2

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (April version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

UNESCO (2023). ChatGPT and artificial intelligence in higher education: Quick start guide

UNESCO (2023). Guidance for generative AI in education and research

UNESCO (n.d). Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

university library guide:

Brandeis University (n.d). Helpful Hints to Maintain Academic Integrity

Carlton University (2020). Academic Integrity

Midwestern State University (2023). Artificial Intelligence (AI): Tools and Resources

University at Albany (2024). Generative AI and Academic Integrity

University of Manitoba (n.d). Academic Integrity & Artificial Intelligence

The University of Queesland. (2024). ChatGPT and other generative AI tools.

University of Taxes (2024). Artificial Intelligence (AI)

University of Toronto (2023). Academic Integrity

University of Waterloo (2024). ChatGPT and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI): The Assignment Dilemma

University of Waterloo (2024). ChatGPT and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)

University of Waterloo. (2024). ChatGPT and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI-generated content and citation

University of Waterloo (n.d). 5 things students need to know before using GenAI

Academic Integrity: More Than Just Requirements

Upholding academic integrity is not just about following rules; it's about embodying the values of honesty, fairness, and responsibility in your academic pursuits. As a university student, you're entrusted with the responsibility to uphold these principles. This guide will provide you with practical tips and strategies to ensure you maintain academic integrity throughout your study. Remember, your commitment to academic integrity not only benefits you but also contributes to the integrity and reputation of your academic institution.

Understand What Academic Integrity Means:

Academic integrity encompasses honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility in academic endeavors.

Familiarize yourself with UNB academic integrity policies. This includes plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, and falsification.

Cite your Sources Properly:

Always give credit to the original authors when you use their ideas, words, data or figures.

Refer to Writing and Citation Help for more information.

Learn the different citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) and use them correctly.

Paraphrase and summarize information rather than copying directly.

Make sure you read Citation and Plagiarism Guide to further your knowledge on this topic.

Cultivate Good Study Habits:

Start assignments early to avoid last-minute rush and temptation to plagiarize.

Keep organized notes and track your sources properly. For example, use citation management tools, such as Zotero and Mendeley, to track your sources.

Break larger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks to reduce stress and maintain focus. 

Develop Critical Thinking Skills:

Question and analyze information critically rather than accepting it as a fact.

Look for diverse perspectives and sources to deepen your understanding of a topic.

Engage in discussions and challenge your own assumptions.

Collaborate Ethically:

Understand the difference between teamwork and cheating.

When working on an assignment in a group, acknowledge the contributions of your teammates and only collaborate within the limit set by your instructor.

Never share answers or completed assignments unless explicitly permitted.

Ask for Help When Needed:

Don't hesitate to ask for clarification from your instructors if you're unsure about expectations.

Use resources such as writing centers, tutoring services, peer support and academic advisors.

Form study groups, but always do your assignments individually unless it is a group assignment.

Impact of Generative AI On Academic Integrity:

Advancement in AI: Language models like GPT-3 and GPT-4 are changing academic integrity norms.

Potential Benefits: Enhances learning, provide writing assistance and creative exploration.

Capabilities: AI can produce human-like text from input prompts.

Opportunities: Helps in generating ideas, understanding concepts, and drafting papers.

Risks: Potential for misuse, including plagiarism without proper citation.

Guidelines for Using AI Tools in Academic Assignments:

Using generative AI in your assignment does not automatically equal to plagiarism. Here are a few things you need to consider before using an AI tool, like ChatGPT.

Read Assignment Instructions Carefully: Always check if AI use is allowed as per the specific instruction provided for each assignment.

Clarify Instructor's Expectations: If you are not sure about whether you are allowed to use AI tools, confirm with your instructor before starting the assignment to avoid misunderstandings.

Consider the Purpose of the Assignment:

Understand what specific skills the assignment is designed to evaluate.

For example:

Using AI calculators or software that automatically solves equations may be prohibited if the assignment tests your ability to solve mathematical problems manually and grasp underlying mathematical concepts.

If the assignments focusing on statistical interpretation or data analysis, using AI tools to manage and analyze large datasets may not only be permitted but encouraged, provided they align with the learning objectives.

Human Effort vs. AI Assistance:

Role of AI: It’s important to recognize that AI should be used as an aid in the learning process, supplementing human effort rather than replacing it.

Citation Requirements: When utilizing AI tools like ChatGPT, it is crucial to cite these tools appropriately to maintain academic integrity and avoid issues of plagiarism. Please check the citation tab in this guide to learn how to cite AI tools.

AI Limitations:

Reliability and Accuracy: AI tools can sometimes generate misleading or inaccurate information, especially in complex tasks or unfamiliar subject areas.

Verification Necessary: Due to the potential inaccuracies, it’s essential to double-check the AI-generated information, particularly when detailed and subject-specific knowledge is required.

Lack of Human Qualities: AI lacks the ability to engage in critical thinking or to truly understand content; its responses are generated based on data patterns rather than genuine reasoning or insight.

Machine-like Output: AI-generated content often lacks the personal touch, voice, and nuanced understanding that human writing, which can be particularly noticeable in tasks requiring individual expression or critical analysis.

By following these guidelines and being aware of both the capabilities and the limitations of AI tools, you can effectively integrate technology into your academic work while upholding academic integrity.

Ethical Issues Associated With AI

Biases in AI:

The output of AI is entirely reply on the prompts it receives, the datasets utilized during training, and the expertise of the engineers who develop it. Consequently, both intentional and unintentional biases, whether explicit or implicit, can manifest within AI systems.

Copyright Concerns:

To train an AI model, vast quantities of training data is required and is sourced from the internet, including copyrighted content. Such unauthorized use constitutes copyright infringement.

Privacy Risks:

AI systems often collect extensive personal data, such as IP addresses and prompt histories, sometimes without explicit user consent.

Implementing Principles for Ethical AI Use:

Ensuring Fairness:

Objective: Design AI systems that do not amplify biases against any individual or group.

Solution: Train with diverse datasets, refine algorithm, evaluate processes to detect and reduce biases.

Promoting Transparency:

Purpose: Transparency is crucial to understand AI's decision-making processes and how it operates.

Objective: Increases accountability, builds trust within the user community, supports the verification of research findings, and encourages the academic practice of building upon previous work.

Protecting Privacy:

Security Measures: Implement strong protections to prevent unauthorized access to or misuse of personal data.

User Awareness: Educate users on the importance of safeguarding their personal information when interacting with AI systems, especially when entering sensitive or proprietary data.

Careful Input Handling in Generative AI:

Potential for Misuse: Inputting sensitive data into generative AI systems can lead to unintended consequences such as the exposure of confidential information.

Ethical Practices: It is essential to adhere to ethical standards to prevent misuse and ensure that the use of AI is legal and maintains ethical integrity.

To AI or Not To AI

The flowchart is designed to guide you through the process of deciding whether an AI tool, such as ChatGPT, is an appropriate tool for your academic work.

Starting Point: Importance of Output Truth

Does the truth of the output matter?

No (e.g., creative writing or fiction): Generally safe to use ChatGPT. However, you should still check with your instructor to ensure that using AI aligns with the assignment's guidelines and objectives.

Yes: Truth is important, such as in research or fact-based assignments. Proceed to the next question.

Requirement for Independent Work

Is independent completion expected?

Yes: Using ChatGPT may be inappropriate. There's a high risk of violating academic integrity rules, plus the potential for receiving inaccurate or biased information from AI.

No: Group work may allow for AI assistance. Next, assess your ability to verify the information provided by ChatGPT.

Capability to Verify AI Output

Do you have the expertise to check the accuracy of ChatGPT's output?

No: It's unsafe to use ChatGPT if you cannot validate its correctness, as this could lead to errors and misinformation.

Yes: You may use ChatGPT if you are confident in your ability to identify and correct any inaccuracies.

Further Steps: It’s crucial to discuss this with your instructor to ensure transparency and get approval. Also, rigorously verify the accuracy and credibility of the information provided by ChatGPT. Proper citations must be made to acknowledge the use of AI in your work.

Concluding Advice:

Learning vs. Assistance: Remember that the primary goal of academic work is to challenge and develop your skills. AI tools like ChatGPT should be used to supplement your learning, not to replace the effort required to overcome academic challenges.

I encourage you to watch this video on adopting the correct approach to use AI tools in academic settings.

Reflection

Now that you've learned how to navigate the use of ChatGPT for your academic work, it's time to put your knowledge to practice! Head over to the interactive game from University of Waterloo library to see if you can apply these guidelines effectively. It will reinforce best practices when leveraging AI as a learning tool.

Let's get started!

ChatGPT and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI): The Assignment Dilemma

Available Help

If you need help to improve all aspects of your academic writing, please visit Writing & Study Skills in Fredericton or the Writing Centre in Saint John. There, you will receive personalized assistance from writing experts. Your tutors help you at any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming to revision. They offer feedback on organization, clarity, grammar and style. Additionally, writing centers often address specific needs such as academic writing, research papers, and citation styles.

At the library, we offer specialized help from subject librarians. We help you in locating resources, navigating databases, and conducting research within the assigned disciplines.

Citing Generative AI, Use ChatGPT As An Example

APA style

In-text citation

Parenthetical citation: (OpenAI, 2023)

Narrative citation: OpenAI (2023)

Reference

Format:

Name of Company. (Year). Name of the generative AI program (model of program) [Large language model]. URL.

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (May 05 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Read more detail on how to cite generative AI tools with APA style

MLA style

In-text citation

The title will usually be a description of what was generated by the AI model.

Example

("Describe the symbolism")

reference

Format:

Author/Creator. "Name of chatbot." Title of platform where accessed, Full URL, Date Accessed (optional).

OpenAI. "ChatGPT." ChatGPT, https://chat.openai.com/chat, February 2, 2023.

Read more detail on how to cite generative AI tools with MLA style. In this handbook, you can find information on how to quote text generated by AI tools, cite visual works created by generative AI.

Chicago (17^th edition) author-date system

In-text citation

(ChatGPT 3.5 May 05, 2024)

Avoid including ChatGPT citations in your reference list unless you provide a publicly accessible link. OpenAI assigning unique URLs to your prompts, these URLs require login for access, these ChatGPT conversations should be treated as personal communications like emails, phone calls, or text messages. Read more detail on citing generative AI tools with Chicago style.

If you use ChatGPT or any similar generative AI tool to brainstorm or plan your assignments, it's important to acknowledge it, even you don't directly use AI-generated content into your assignment. The acknowledgement should include details about the AI tool you used, describe how you used it, and mention the date of access. You can do this by capturing a screenshot or saving the conversation by clicking the export sign at the top right corner of the webpage if you use ChatGPT

Please note: IEEE and Vancouver haven't approved citing AI outputs for publications, so there is not guideline on the citation. JAMA doesn't recognize ChatGPT and similar AI tools as authors, so there's no standard way to cite them. The article below explained JMAL’s opinion and action on using generative AI as authorship.

Flanagin, A., Bibbins-Domingo, K., & Berkwits, M. (2023, Jan. 31). Nonhuman “authors” and implications for the integrity of scientific publication and medical knowledge. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2801170

Remember, as technology evolves, citation rules might change too. Keep an eye out for updates.