International Journal of Academic Research in Education and Review

Vol. 11(4), pp. 101-111, August 2023

ISSN: 2360-7866

https://doi.org/10.14662/ijarer2023235

 

Full Length Research

 

 

Users Awareness and Perception of Plagiarism Issues in Tertiary Institutions, Nigeria

 

Elonye, Gloria U.*1, Onyenania, George O.2 and Asunmo, A. A3

 

Yaba college of Technology Library, Yaba-Lagos1,2&3.

*Corresponding author’s E-mail: gloriaelonye@yahoo.com  

Accepted 11 August 2023

Abstract

Abstract: Plagiarism issues in tertiary institutions of learning are somehow considered as a new monster among academics and students irrespective of its benefits. This miss normal could be due to several factors including those relating to awareness and perception of staff and students who may be library users. Thus, this study examines users’ awareness and perception of plagiarism issues in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted in carrying out the study. The study population consisted of all the 3,860 registered library users in the 2021/2022 academic year. A total of 386 respondents were sampled representing 10% of the total study population. The simple random sampling technique was equally adopted in the instrument administration. Complete data subsequently collected from 368 respondents which represents 95.34% response rate were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics of frequency counts, simple percentages and chi-square via SPSS version 20.18 to arrive at the study findings. Major findings emanating from the study includes that: awareness of plagiarism issues can reduce the factors that push library users towards plagiarism; and that majority of the respondents were aware that copying original works of another person without citing it is a form of plagiarism; respondents strongly agree that plagiarism has several negative effects such as affecting creativity, development of ideas and innovations; as well as agree that absence of critical thinking and analysis skills leads to plagiarism. Other findings include that repackaging practical-based information literacy education for the benefits of staff and students would reduce or help to shun plagiarism, and the use of plagiarism detection software/tools like TURNITIN for all academic works submitted by staff and students will help to reduce plagiarism; as well as that absence of commitment in checking plagiarism in academic works is one of the problems that promote plagiarism and lack of policy that stipulates offences and penalties for plagiarized academic works by staff and students among others upon which recommendations were made.

 

Key Words: Users Awareness, Plagiarism Issues, Tertiary Institutions, Yabatech, Lagos-Nigeria

Paper type: research