Research, Citations and Plagiarism

This workshop on Research, Citations, and Plagiarism was conducted by Ms. Tulip Suman, Assistant Professor at KIIT School of Law, whose academic and professional expertise spans Intellectual Property Rights and International Law. The session was designed to equip law students and early researchers with foundational and practical skills essential for producing credible, ethical, and publication-ready academic work.

The discussion commenced with the selection of an ideal research topic, focusing on identifying research gaps, narrowing broad themes into precise problem statements, and aligning topics with doctrinal relevance and contemporary legal developments. Participants were introduced to core legal research methodologies, including doctrinal research, non-doctrinal (empirical) research, comparative analysis, qualitative and quantitative approaches, and the use of primary and secondary sources such as statutes, case laws, commentaries, journals, and international instruments.

A significant portion of the workshop addressed citation practices and referencing techniques, emphasizing their role in academic credibility and intellectual honesty. Technical aspects such as footnoting, in-text citations, bibliographies, and the application of standardized citation formats including Bluebook, OSCOLA, and APA were discussed. Participants were guided on accurate attribution, source verification, and consistency in referencing.

The session concluded with an in-depth discussion on plagiarism, covering its meaning, forms (including direct plagiarism, mosaic plagiarism, and self-plagiarism), and the ethical and legal consequences associated with it. Practical strategies to avoid plagiarism were shared, such as effective paraphrasing, critical analysis over reproduction, proper citation, and maintaining originality in arguments. Emphasis was placed on developing authentic scholarly work through independent reasoning, structured analysis, and ethical research practices.

Overall, the workshop provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of academic research standards, reinforcing the importance of integrity, originality, and methodological rigor in legal writing and publications.