UTILIZATION OF ANTI-PLAGIARISM SOFTWARE FOR ACADEMIC INTEGRITY PROMOTION BY STAFF IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES, ZARIA

Abstract

This study investigated the utilization of anti-plagiarism software for the promotion of
academic integrity among academic staff in Ahmadu Bello University. The study specifically
identified the types of anti-plagiarism software available, examined how these tools are
utilized, and determined the extent of their utilization among academic staff. A survey research
design was adopted, and total enumeration sampling was used to study all 51 academic staff
in the university. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using
descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages. The findings revealed that several
anti-plagiarism software packages are available and in use, notably Turnitin, Grammarly,
PlagScan, Drillbit, and Quetext, with Turnitin and Grammarly being the most widely
acknowledged. Results further showed that academic staff actively use anti-plagiarism tools
for checking originality in research publications and student assignments; however, the level
of utilization and institutional integration varies significantly. While many respondents
demonstrated high commitment to promoting academic integrity through plagiarism detection,
inconsistencies were observed in institutional enforcement, policy implementation, and
infrastructural support. The study concludes that although awareness and use of antiplagiarism software among academic staff are relatively high, inconsistent application and
limited institutional support hinder optimal utilization. The study therefore recommends stronger library-led policy enforcement, regular training for academic staff, and improved
access to licensed plagiarism detection tools to enhance academic integrity within the
university.