TY  - JOUR
T1  - Investigating Academic Integrity Needs of English Language Learners in Higher Education
AU  - Baysal Çalışkan, Meltem
AU  - Razı, Salim
PY  - 2025
DA  - June
Y2  - 2025
DO  - 10.71362/eltrj.1654675
JF  - ELT Research Journal
JO  - ELTRJ
PB  - Uluslararası Eğitim Araştırmacıları Derneği
WT  - DergiPark
SN  - 2146-9814
SP  - 23
EP  - 46
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
LA  - en
AB  - Academic integrity is fundamental to higher education, ensuring the authenticity of scholarly work and fostering ethical development among students. The prevailing availability of academic writing services and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools has amplified the challenges of maintaining integrity, particularly for English Language Learners (ELLs) moving into university settings. This study investigated the specific academic integrity needs of ELLs in a preparatory program of a School of Foreign Languages. Using a qualitative design, data were collected through semi-structured focus group interviews with 80 undergraduate ELLs and individual interviews with four English language instructors. Thematic analysis revealed substantial knowledge gaps, misconceptions, and systemic obstacles that hinder the effective development of academic integrity. Results highlighted the necessity of comprehensive training in academic integrity principles, plagiarism prevention strategies, ethical citation and referencing techniques, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) -powered tools in academic writing. This study proposed context-specific, needs-driven interventions addressing the linguistic, technological, and institutional challenges faced by ELLs. It offers practical insights to promote academic integrity culture in higher educational contexts.
KW  - Academic Integrity
KW  - English Language Learners
KW  - Higher Education
KW  - Plagiarism
KW  - GenAI
CR  - Abasi, A. R., & Graves, B. (2008). Academic literacy and plagiarism: Conversations with international graduate students and disciplinary professors. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 7(4), 221–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2008.10.010
CR  - Bertram Gallant, T. (2017). Academic integrity as a teaching & learning issue: From theory to practice. Theory Into Practice, 56(2), 88–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405841.2017.1308173
CR  - Bista, K. (2011). Academic dishonesty among international students in higher education. In J. Miller & J. Groccia (Eds.), To improve the academy: Vol. 30. Resources for faculty, instructional, and organizational development (pp. 159–172). Jossey-Bass.
CR  - Bloch, J. (2012). Plagiarism, intellectual property and the teaching of L2 writing, Bristol, Blue Ridge Summit: Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781847696533
CR  - Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
CR  - Bretag, T. (2007). The emperor’s new clothes: Yes, there is a link between English language competence and academic standards. People and Place, 15(1), 13–21.
CR  - Bretag, T., Mahmud, S., Wallace, M., Walker, R., & James, C. (2011). Core elements of exemplary academic integrity policy in Australian higher education. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 7(2), 3–12. 
Brown, J. D. (1995). The elements of language curriculum: A systematic approach to program development. Heinle & Heinle.
CR  - Curtis, G. J., Cowcher, E., Greene, B. R., Rundle, K., Paull, M., & Davis, M. C. (2018). Self-control, injunctive norms, and descriptive norms predict engagement in plagiarism in a theory of planned behavior model. Journal of Academic Ethics, 16(3), 225-239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-018-9309-2
CR  - Dobrin, S. I. (2023). AI and Writing. Broadview Press. https://books.google.com.tr/books?id=FKHREAAAQBAJ
CR  - Eaton, S. E., Guglielmin, M., & Otoo, B. (2017). Preventing plagiarism and fostering academic integrity: A practical approach. In A. P. Preciado Babb, L. Yeworiew, & S. Sabbaghan (Eds.), Selected Proceedings of the IDEAS Conference 2017: Leading Educational Change Conference (pp. 28–36). Calgary, Canada: University of Calgary.
CR  - Eaton, S. E. (2021). Plagiarism in higher education: Tackling tough topics in academic integrity. Libraries Unlimited. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228959.2022.2085422
CR  - Ellis, C., Zucker, I. M., & Randall, D. (2018). The infernal business of contract cheating: Understanding the business processes and models of academic custom writing sites. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 14(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-017-0024-3
CR  - European Network for Quality Assurance. (2020). Report on academic integrity. https://www.enqa.eu/wp-content/uploads/ENQA-WG-Report-on-Academic-Integrity-.pdf
CR  - Evans, F. B., & Youmans, M. (2000). ESL writers discuss plagiarism: The social construction of ideologies. Journal of Education, 182(3), 54-71. https://doi.org/10.1177/002205740018200305
CR  - Fass-Holmes, B. (2017). International students reported for academic integrity violations: Demographics, retention, and graduation. Journal of International Students, 7(3), 644–669. 
https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v7i3.292
CR  - Guerrero-Dib, J. G., Portales, L., & Heredia-Escorza, Y. (2020). Impact of academic integrity on workplace ethical behaviour. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 16(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-020-00051-3
CR  - Hayes, N., & Introna, L. D. (2005). Cultural values, plagiarism, and fairness: When plagiarism gets in the way of learning. Ethics & Behavior, 15(3), 213-231. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327019eb1503_2
CR  - Howard, R. M. (1993). A plagiarism pentimento. Journal of Teaching Writing, 11(2), 233–245.
CR  - Hu, G. (2015). Research on plagiarism in second language writing: Where to from here? Journal of Second Language Writing, 30, 100-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2015.08.004
CR  - Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for specific purposes: A learning-centred approach. Cambridge University Press.
CR  - Khan, Z. R. (2024). Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Academia. In S. E. Eaton (Ed.), Second Handbook of Academic Integrity (pp. 1551-1582). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54144-5_188
CR  - Kier, C. A., & Ives, C. (2022). Recommendations for a balanced approach to supporting academic integrity: perspectives from a survey of students, faculty, and tutors. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 18(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-022-00116-x
CR  - Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic Inquiry. Sage Publications. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(85)90062-8
CR  - Liu, D. (2005). Plagiarism in ESOL students: is cultural conditioning truly the major culprit? ELT Journal, 59(3), 234–241. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci043
CR  - McCabe, D. L., Trevino, L. K., & Butterfield, K. D. (2001). Cheating in academic institutions: A decade of research. Ethics & Behavior, 11(3), 219–232. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327019EB1103_2
CR  - McGowan, U. (2008). International students: A conceptual framework for dealing with unintentional plagiarism. In T. S. Roberts (Ed.), Student plagiarism in an online word: Problems and solutions (pp. 92–107). Hershey: Information Science Reference. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-59904-801-7.ch007
CR  - Meyers, A., Smith, C., & Cekiso, M. (2023). Variables impacting academic writing: an investigation of first-year TVET students’ writing performance. E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 4(10), 1184-1196.  https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20234102
CR  - Moya, B., Eaton, S. E., Pethrick, H., Hayden, K. A., Brennan, R., Wiens, J., … Lesage, J. (2023). Academic integrity and artificial intelligence in higher education contexts: A rapid scoping review protocol. Canadian Perspectives on Academic Integrity, 5(2), 59–75. Retrieved from https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/ai/article/view/75990
CR  - Mphahlele, A., & McKenna, S. (2019). The use of turnitin in the higher education sector: Decoding the myth. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 44(7), 1079–1089. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2019.1573971
CR  - Newton, P. (2015). Academic integrity: A quantitative study of confidence and understanding in students at the start of their higher education. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 41(3), 482–497. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2015.1024199
CR  - Pecorari, D. (2015). Plagiarism in second language writing: Is it time to close the case? Journal of Second Language Writing, 30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2015.08.003
CR  - Perkins, M., Gezgin, U. B., & Roe, J. (2020). Reducing plagiarism through academic misconduct education. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 16(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-020-00052-8
CR  - Razı, S. (2016). Are review skills and academic writing skills related? An exploratory analysis via multi-source feedback tools. International Journal of Progressive Education, 12(1), 117-127. 
https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ijpe/issue/26318/277358
CR  - Razı, S. (2017). Anonymous multi-mediated writing model: Peer feedback exchange in EAP. In D. Köksal (Ed.), Researching ELT: Classroom methodology and beyond (pp. 29-42). Peter Lang.
CR  - Robinson, P. (1991). ESP Today: A Practitioner's Guide. Prentice Hall.
CR  - Sefcik, L., Striepe, M., & Yorke, J. (2020). Mapping the landscape of academic integrity education programs: What approaches are effective? Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 45(1), 30–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2019.1604942
CR  - Shenton, A. K. (2004). Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information, 22(2), 63–75. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-2004-22201
CR  - Sowden, C. (2005). Plagiarism and the culture of multilingual students in higher education abroad. ELT Journal, 59(3), 226-233. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci042
CR  - Stephens, J. M., Watson, P. W. S. J., Alansari, M., Lee, G., & Turnbull, S. M. (2021). Can online academic integrity instruction affect university students’ perceptions of and engagement in academic dishonesty? Results from a natural experiment in New Zealand. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.569133
CR  - Storch, N. (2009). The impact of studying in a second language (L2) medium university on the development of L2 writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 18(2), 103-118. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2009.02.003
CR  - Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2004). Academic writing for graduate students: Essential tasks and skills (2nd ed.). The University of Michigan Press.
CR  - The Council of Europe. (n.d.). Best practice programme in promoting academic integrity. https://www.coe.int/en/web/education/best-practice-programme-in-promoting-academic-integrity
CR  - Youmans, R. J. (2011). Does the adoption of plagiarism-detection software in higher education reduce plagiarism? Studies in Higher Education, 36(7), 749–761. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075071003725386
UR  - https://doi.org/10.71362/eltrj.1654675
L1  - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/4676443
ER  -