Engineering Ethics (ENGR 302) - Ghostwriting of Research Results

This case study from Islamic University, ENGR 302 Engineering Ethics, explores the ethical implications of ghostwriting in engineering research, focusing on the acceptability of this practice. The assignment begins by defining ghostwriting and its different forms, distinguishing between commercial and academic contexts. It emphasizes that ghostwriting in engineering research, particularly when it involves experimental work, is generally considered unethical due to the importance of students demonstrating their own skills and ideas. The study highlights the potential for bias and the importance of transparency in collaborative efforts. The author concludes that while some situations might allow ghostwriting if all parties are involved and informed, it should not be permitted in academic settings due to ethical concerns and the potential for plagiarism. The paper underscores the importance of learning over grades and suggests that institutions should develop policies and guidelines to control ghostwriting practices. References are provided to support the arguments presented.

Islamic University
Faculty of Engineering الجامعة اإلسالمية
كليةالهندسة
ENGR 302
ENGINEERING ETHICS
Spring Semester 2019-20
Ghostwriting of Research Article
Page 142
CASE STUDY 03
[CO_7, PI_4_24, SO_4]
Submitted To
Dr. H. A. Wajid
Submitted By
Name, Family Name, Student ID No
Section No: 597
Maximum Pages = 2

Can You Think Of Situations in Which Ghost-Writing of Engineering Research Results
Would Be Acceptable?
To answer this question well, you first have to understand the meaning of
ghostwriting. Ghostwriting remains a common practice in a variety of professional as well as
artistic endeavors. Ghostwriting is writing in the name of another person for publication
under another's name. It is a piece of work written by an individual but credited to another
person (Bogomolov, Kovalenko, Bacchelli & Bryksin, 2020). There are different forms of
Ghostwriting. It falls under 2 categories: commercial and academic. Ghostwriting may be
ethical, depending on the objectives of the writer and the kind of writing (Hamilton et al.
2016). In academic, ghostwriting student research papers is considered dishonest in many
institutions.
It is unacceptable to use ghostwriting in engineering research results. This is because
most of the engineering research results involve the actual performance of experimental
work, which remains an integral part of an engineering student's education (Fusch, Ness,
Booker & Fusch, 2017). Normally, Tutors expect their students to represent their own skills
and ideas in their writing. Ghostwriting may paint a bad picture to the student and the
institutions, especially when the student presented himself in the job market. Therefore, the
use of ghostwriting is a form of cheating. Also, the use of ghostwriting involves the
introduction of bias into the paper especially when the author has considerable financial ties
to the institution. However, for some circumstances, this concept is entirely acceptable, as in
the writing of political speeches.
On the other hand, ghostwriting can only be used in a situation where there is a true
collaboration between the parties involved in the process. If there is a true collaboration
between the interested parties with no deception, it shall be effective to use ghostwriting. So,
with the word of effective communication between the parties, it remains a valuable service
to be used for writing research results. Nevertheless, ghostwriting, when it refers to the

creation of a paper or other material without the involvement of the represented author and
without disclosing having used a ghostwriter, is an awful idea. To me, it is an ethical breach,
mainly when non-transparent ghostwriting remains used to promote irregularities in
academics. And that is why many people, including the United States senator, are calling for
the end of ghostwriting.
In conclusion, Ghostwriting remains an ethical issue as well as affects other people.
That is to say, learners who hire writers lie to themselves with fake works. From this paper,
there are indeed some circumstances in which ghostwriting may be used. Ghostwriting
should be accepted by all the parties involved in the process. To me, ghostwriting should not
be allowed in any institution. This is because it constitute a serious unethical issue. Also, it
could be a form of plagiarism. Therefore, learners need to realize that learning remains more
critical than a grade. Institutions should develop some essential policies to control this
Ghostwriting. It can also be controlled by the creation of stronger guidelines as well as new
enforcement mechanisms. All these shall minimize the ghostwriting of engineering research
results.

References
Bogomolov, E., Kovalenko, V., Bacchelli, A., & Bryksin, T. (2020). Authorship Attribution
of Source Code: A Language-Agnostic Approach and Applicability in Software
Engineering. arXiv preprint arXiv:2001.11593.
Fusch, P. I., Ness, L. R., Booker, J. M., & Fusch, G. E. (2017). The ethical implications of
plagiarism and ghostwriting in an open society. Journal of Social Change, 9(1), 4.
Hamilton, C. W., Gertel, A., Jacobs, A., Marchington, J., Weaver, S., & Woolley, K. (2016).
Mythbusting medical writing: goodbye, ghosts! Hello, help!. Accountability in
research, 23(3), 178-194.
Stella-Maris, O., & Awala-Ale, A. (2017). Exploring students’ perception and experience of
ghostwriting and contract cheating in Nigeria higher education
institutions. World, 4(4).