When a student who is a member of a larger research collaboration does a research project and writes a single-author dissertation for the purpose of attaining an academic qualification, is it permissible for the student to use the work of others in the collaboration over the course of the thesis work and fail to reference, acknowledge, or even mention the work?
If so, what is the extent of the work that it is permissible for the student to use in such a way? Clearly, it would not be possible to acknowledge every tiny little contribution toward the work, but if a student uses work and ideas from others in order to obtain data and results, and those results would not be possible without said work (software, for example), is it necessary to reference and/or acknowledge that work? If the student uses such work, and fails to provide mention of the use of the work, can this be considered plagiarism?
I would appreciate if if senior scientists, professors, and others who are fully aware of the applicable rules, laws and common scientific practices would contribute to the discussion.
Thank you.