Plagiarism Awareness and Practice by Postgraduate Students in Public Universities in Kenya: From an Academic Integrity Standpoint

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70759/btrn7w35

Keywords:

Plagiarism, academic integrity, postgraduate students, AI-generated content

Abstract

Rationale of study - The study assesses plagiarism awareness and practice as a means of academic integrity among postgraduate students.

Methodology - The study adopted a descriptive design with a mixed-methods design utilising both questionnaires and interviews to collect data. The population consisted of 711 postgraduate students from three public universities in Kenya.

Findings - The study obtained responses from a sample of 499 participants. The findings revealed a significant discrepancy between the theoretical knowledge that postgraduate students possess regarding plagiarism and their actual writing practices. The doctoral students' understanding of academic integrity was significantly shaped by their awareness of plagiarism and university policies, their engagement with plagiarism practices, and their use of library resources. However, the emergence of new challenges, such as AI-generated content and paraphrased plagiarism, adds to this complexity.

Implications - It recommends that the focus should shift from theoretical knowledge about plagiarism to developing comprehensive, practically oriented programs that build real skills. A multi-faceted intervention is required, involving postgraduate students, the library, and various departments.

Originality - This study examines plagiarism awareness and practices among postgraduate students in public universities in Kenya.

Author Biographies

  • Stephen Odongo, Technical University of Mombasa

    Stephen Odera Odongo is a Tutorial Fellow at the Technical University of Mombasa with over a decade of experience in library and information management. He teaches information science courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and previously served as Senior Library Assistant and Head of Cataloguing and Technical Services. Odera has extensive experience in digital library systems administration and has successfully implemented Koha library management systems at multiple institutions. He is currently pursuing his PhD at Kenyatta University, holds an MSc in Library and Information Science from the same institution, and a Bachelor's degree in Information Science from Kenya Methodist University.

  • Rose Njoroge, Kenyatta University

    Dr Rose Njoroge is a Lecturer in the Library and Information Science Department within the Directorate of E-learning at Kenyatta University. She holds a PhD in Library and Information Science from Kenyatta University. Her research expertise spans Information Science, Data Mining, and Computer Security and Reliability. Dr. Njoroge's interdisciplinary approach encompasses Educational Technology and Teaching Methods, positioning her at the forefront of integrating technology with information science education. Through her role in the Directorate of E-learning, she contributes to advancing digital learning methodologies while conducting research that addresses critical issues in data security and information management within educational contexts.

  • George Gitau Njoroge, Kenyatta University

    Dr. George Gitau Njoroge is a Senior Lecturer in Computing and Information Science, holding a PhD in Information Science, specialising in organisation and retrieval, library management and automation, and knowledge management. His research focuses on information organisation and retrieval, as well as research data management within open science frameworks. As an established scholar, Dr. Njoroge contributes to the education of future information professionals while advancing the field through research that bridges traditional information management practices with emerging technological solutions. His work is particularly relevant to modern academic environments where proper data stewardship and open science principles are increasingly vital.

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Published

25-06-2025

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Stephen Odongo, Rose Njoroge, George Gitau Njoroge (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Plagiarism Awareness and Practice by Postgraduate Students in Public Universities in Kenya: From an Academic Integrity Standpoint. (2025). Regional Journal of Information and Knowledge Management, 10(1), 167-181. https://doi.org/10.70759/btrn7w35

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