AN INVESTIGATION OF PLAGIARISM IN EFL THESIS GRADUATES OF ALMUSLIM UNIVERSITY

This study focuses on how Almuslim University EFL graduates perceive plagiarism from 2020 to 2022. The data for this study were gathered through documents and interviews using a descriptive qualitative design. 15 theses were used as samples to determine the types of plagiarism, and 15 respondents were interviewed to determine the factors that influence plagiarism. The documents were coded based on the types of plagiarism, and the respondents were asked five questions during the interview. The findings revealed that 12 of the 15 theses samples had plagiarism rates greater than 25%. Three theses were found to have a small percentage of plagiarism. According to the samples, the majority of EFL graduates completed their theses using patchwriting instead of verbatim plagiarism. Furthermore, the interview results revealed that theses plagiarism could occur due to a variety of factors, including a lack of information, a desire to finish it quickly, a negative environment influence, and viewing the theses as a graduate formality. Furthermore, the findings of this study can be used to educate others about the various types, causes, and contributing factors to plagiarism. As a result, lecturers and universities can take precautionary measures to avoid plagiarism in the future