Library Instruction Sessions on Awareness of Plagiarism Among University Students: A Case Study

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of library user education programmes in enhancing students' awareness and understanding of seven types of plagiarism. The focus was on three distinct groups of students: undergraduates at two different levels (level I and level III) and postgraduates. The methodology employed a structured questionnaire to collect data via a survey approach before and after the library instruction sessions. To facilitate data collection, an online survey was created using Google Forms, streamlining the process of reaching out to participants.Results demonstrate that the library user education programs significantly contributed to the enhancement of students' comprehension of plagiarism. Notably, Word-for-Word and Mosaic plagiarism were well comprehended across all student groups, indicating the effectiveness of the educational interventions for these types.While the majority of plagiarism types indicate considerable improvement following the instructional sessions, the study highlights the importance of tailored approaches for addressing challenging areas. Educators are encouraged to prioritize comprehensive and targeted strategies to maximize the outcomes of plagiarism and referencing in education.