Identifying and prioritizing the effective factors affecting the students’ plagiarism in Isfahan University

Widespread development of new technologies in academic environment has caused positive outcomes and negative effects. One of the negative effects is the phenomena of plagiarism. The purpose of this study was to identify and prioritize main factors affecting the plagiarism of students in Isfahan University. The research method was descriptive survey and applied one. Statistical population included all students of Isfahan University. A sample of 300 students was randomly selected by proportional method. Data collection instrument included a researcher made questionnaire. The validity of questionnaire was evaluated by specialists and its reliability was determined by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (.86) Varimax rotation explorative factor analysis was used to identify the main factors. The results indicated that the first most important factor for students' plagiarism was getting good grades. Other influencing factors in order of importance are as follows: lack of students' self efficacies in writing scientific reports and doing research jobs, lack of appropriate mechanisms for identification and punishment of plagiarists, social-cultural factors, lack of students' previous knowledge about citations and awareness of plagiarism in high schools and their informal education, deficiency of faculty members in identifying plagiarism and reacting to it, pressure factors, lack of education in universities regarding identification and prevention of plagiarism, no fear of punishment and inquiry, and having access to virtual and electronic environments.