Information is data or content that serves as the foundation for knowledge, research, innovation, and expression. It can be found in many forms, from academic research to art and music. The value of information is tied to the investment of effort, time, and creativity in generating something novel. Every new creation is built upon the framework of what has come before it. Respecting and acknowledging these building blocks is a cornerstone of ethical use of information. The following topics must be considered when using information.
Plagiarism is the use of someone else's creations without giving them credit. This is both ethically and academically dishonest.
You can avoid plagiarism by taking these key steps:
To learn more about plagiarism, visit this guide:
Understanding copyright and fair use is crucial for students, researchers, educators, and content creators to respect intellectual property while promoting creativity and innovation. Anything fixed in a tangible form is copyrighted.
Copyright formally acknowledges the value of original works and grants the creators specific rights. These include the right to reproduce, distribute, create derivatives, perform, and display their work. If others wish to use something copyrighted, they must get permission from the copyright holder.
Fair use policies are in place to allow context-dependent exceptions to the use of copyrighted materials, including education, commentary, reporting, and research. There are specific criteria that must be met to be covered under fair use.
Copyright laws and their interpretations can vary by country, so it's advisable to be aware of the specific rules and regulations.
To learn more about copyright and fair use, visit these guides:
Academic honesty means following ethical principles and integrity in academic endeavors.
Here are some concepts to remember:
Iowa State University has a policy that outlines the particular actions that are considered academic dishonesty.
Citing sources means providing a reference to the original source of information used in your work. This includes both in-text citations and a reference list at the end of your work. Proper citation is important for giving credit to the original author or creator and for allowing readers to find the original source of the information.
Different academic disciplines have different guidelines for citing sources. Here is a guide on some of these styles.
Citation management tools can make organizing and using sources easier. These tools help you collect, organize, and store citations and documents as you find them online. The library supports three tools that help manage and create citations.
The library's collections and services are available to all ISU students, faculty, and staff and Parks Library is open to the public.
