Abstract- For Thailand’s schools, colleges, and universities, academic misconduct continues to be one of the most significant challenges. Since the start of the COVID pandemic in March 2020 the use of the internet, digital platforms, and eLearning has dramatically increased. This sudden explosion in online learning presents huge challenges in curtailing the temptations for engaging in plagiarism. The internet provides ample opportunities for Thai students to access a wealth of information without visiting a school or university library. While easy access to the internet has led to a boom in searching for information, it has also made it much easier for students to plagiarize content they come across. Most Thai schools, colleges, and universities have created a policy to curb plagiarism to uphold academic integrity. Since Thai students are very weak in English language proficiency there is a tolerance for copying from the internet. This study is based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) underpinned as a predictive model of academic dishonesty which explains behavior as a final act of logical thinking. Attitudes are the pre-requisites in formulating convictions and normative beliefs which are referred to as subjective norms cultivated from the positive and negative attitudes about plagiarism which students get from society. This study also provides measures to combat plagiarism in Thai institutions.
Keywords- English as Foreign Language (EFL), English Proficiency Index (EPI), Medium of Instruction (MoI), Plagiarism, Thailand
A. Statement of the problem
In Thailand, the first case of plagiarism was publicly announced in 2008 when 80 percent of plagiarism was reported in a doctoral thesis [12].
J. Fernquest and D. Mala. "Plagiarism: Warnings after university thesis plagiarism revealed." Bangkok Post. https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/957873/plagiarism-warnings-after-university-thesis-plagiarism-revealed
Thereafter, it has been in the forefront attention of academics. Although, some universities had attempted to address this problem, still the problem exists widely among Thai students [6]. Many studies revealed that Thai students could neither understand the concept of plagiarism nor how to do proper citations and most of them lack critical thinking and academic writing skills [9] [27]. On the basis of this background the current study was initiated to find out the attitude of Thai students towards plagiarism. Is the habit of plagiarizing a cultural problem or it is because of inadequate control measures? Are Thai school, colleges and universities supportive in deterring plagiarism practices? These crucial issues are investigated through primary survey data and its analysis.
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