The social anatomy of 'collusion'

Crook, Charles; Elizabeth, Nixon

Abstract

This paper offers a conceptual analysis of collusion, the often overlooked relative of plagiarism in debates on academic integrity. Considered as an inherently social phenomenon, we present the results of a systematic effort to understand the anatomy of collusion. The term’s meanings and associated governance practices are compared for contexts outside Higher Education (HE). These are considered alongside a thematic analysis of publicly available UK university academic integrity documentation that specifies for students what counts as collusion. We indicate how current guideline practice can (1) appear incomplete by concentrating on classroom peers, (2) create blurred boundaries around useful collaboration, peer review and dishonest practice and (3) may be so unrealistic as to have unwelcome, unintended consequences for students and staff. Taking an ecological perspective on the conditions of collusion emphasises how these guidelines - by seeking to constrain social interactions around assignment work - may create an uncomfortable incoherence between their prescriptions and well-established patterns of study.

Citation

Crook, C., & Elizabeth, N. (2019). The social anatomy of 'collusion'. British Educational Research Journal, 45(2), 388-406. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3504

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 12, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jan 10, 2019
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Deposit Date: Jan 14, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 11, 2020
• Journal: British Educational Research Journal
• Print ISSN: 0141-1926
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-3518
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 45
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 388-406
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3504
• Keywords: Education
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1413733
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/berj.3504
• Contract Date: Jan 14, 2019