Awareness and Utilization of Plagiarism Detection Software by Postgraduate Students in Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State

Abstract

This study investigated awareness and utilization of plagiarism detection software by postgraduate students in Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State. Four research questions guided the study. Survey research design was adopted. Sample for the study was 169 postgraduate students. Questionnaire developed by the researchers was the instrument used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using bar charts, frequency and percentages. The findings of the study revealed that postgraduate students in FUDMA have average level of awareness of Turnitin plagiarism software, most of the postgraduate students take their work to the university library for plagiarism check, postgraduate students mostly use Turnitin to check the similarity index of their Dissertation and Thesis, challenges that hinders effective use of Turnitin include lack of fund to use Turnitin, inadequate knowledge to use Turnitin, among others. The study recommended that the management of Federal University Dutsinma through the postgraduate school should make effort in improving the postgraduate student’s awareness through orientation programs, organizing workshops and seminars, all Faculties and Departments should make it compulsory for postgraduate students to subject their Dissertations and Thesis for plagiarism check, the postgraduate school should bring to the notice of the students the necessity of subjecting their work for plagiarism check and the need for them to comply with the law of the school pertaining plagiarism.