Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Date

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

English

Committee Chair

William Duffy

Committee Member

Chloe Robertson

Committee Member

Elliott Casal

Committee Member

Katherine Fredlund

Abstract

This dissertation examines the impacts of the use of plagiarism and AI detection software as surveillance methods in online writing classes. Participants in this study were asked a series of questions via questionnaire regarding their attitudes, perceptions, and experiences with plagiarism and AI detection software. Participant responses indicate that plagiarism and AI detection in online writing classes causes anxiety and fear, which degrades their relationship with the instructor and fundamentally alters their writing process and the writing they produce. Participant responses noted that they fear that plagiarism and AI detectors will falsely flag their writing as plagiarized or AI-generated. Participants also indicated feeling anxious about the notion of their writing being surveilled, archived, and sold by for-profit companies. Operating under a series of guiding principles that prioritize trusting student-teacher relationships and critical digital literacy and pedagogy, this dissertation argues that online writing classes should remain a space for free thought, expression, and learning, and resistance against EdTech surveillance – by institutions, instructors, and students – is the only way forward.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest/Clarivate.

Notes

Open Access.

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