Discovering unauthorised outsourcing of coursework: What DOCX files reveal

Outsourcing to third parties, such as contract cheating providers or undisclosed text production by artificial intelligence, are considered difficult to detect. Text files in DOCX or ODT format can be used to specifically search for indications of unauthorised outsourcing. Of course, it is possible for people with the appropriate technical knowledge to change or delete information in the places presented here. In very many cases, however, this possibility is not used. On the other hand, it is also possible and perfectly legitimate to create a new and clean file for the submission version of a text. A single evidence of potential outsourcing is not yet proof, but several can give an illuminating overall picture. Further evidence can be provided, for example, by the information in the properties of electronically submitted documents.

Downloadable files

XML_Hinweise_Outsourcing_en.pdf

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Unerlaubtes Outsourcing von Studienleistungen entdecken: Was DOCX-Dateien verraten