Lecturers Perceptions of the use of Anti-Plagiarism Check Software in Federal University of Technology Minna. Implications for Sustainable National Development in the 21st Century.

Abstract

The study investigated the perceptions of the use of anti-plagiarism Check Software (APCS) amongst Lecturers in Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA). The survey research design was used by the researchers for the study which was convenient for the purpose of determining their perceptions of the use of APCS in the University. The population of the study was all the lecturers in FUTMINNA. Multi-stage sampling (stratified and simple random sampling) techniques were utilized in arriving at 79 lecturers picked across the eight schools (faculties) in the University. Likert-type questionnaire entitled ‘Questionnaire for Perception of Anti-Plagiarism Check Software (QULPAPCS) was designed for the study and was validated by experts with a reliability index of 0.82 using Cronbach alpha. The method of data collection was distribution of QULPAPCS directly by the research assistants identified in each of the schools (faculties) in the University. Data collected was analyzed using simple frequency counts and percentages while descriptive charts were used to further illustrate the data analysed. The study revealed that lecturers have very high perception of the use of APCS (89.79%) in FUTMINNA which has implications on lecturers insisting on originality in students’ projects and thesis works. Laziness on the side of students was perceived to be the major factor responsible for plagiarism. It was recommended that the usage of Turnitin as anti-plagiarism check software (APCS) should be encourage to sustain the success recorded in the University. It was concluded that academic staff have positive perceptions on APCS which should not be adopted to avoid been tagged for punitive measures for administrative convenience.