PLAGIARISM DETECTION AND PREVENTION IN ACADEMIC PUBLISHING AMONG LIBRARIANS IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

This study determines the influence of plagiarism detection and prevention on academic publishing among academic librarians in public universities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Two objectives, with corresponding research questions and hypotheses, guided the study. Literature was reviewed in line with the constructs of plagiarism detection and prevention (plagiarism detection software and expert knowledge) as used in the study. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population and sample size were 42 academic librarians drawn from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State University and Federal University of Technology, using a census sampling technique. A researcher developed an instrument “Plagiarism Detection and Prevention in Academic Publishing” Questionnaire (PDPAPQ), which was used for data collection. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer the research questions, while an independent t-test was used to test the hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The findings from the study showed that plagiarism detection software and expert advice have a significant influence on the detection and prevention of plagiarism in academic publishing. The study concluded that plagiarism detection and prevention have an influence on academic publishing among academic librarians in public university libraries in Akwa Ibom State, with reference to plagiarism detection software and expert knowledge. Consequently, it is recommended amongst others that the University management should implement the use of plagiarism detection software as well as provide training for academic librarians in the effective use of plagiarism software so as to ensure integrity in academic publishing.