1,720,989 research outputs found
An investigation of the perceptions and attitudes of postgraduate students interacting with Turnitin: The case of the University of Stellenbosch Business School
Get PDFMagister Artium - MAGlobally there is growing concern around increased levels of plagiarism. Gullifer and Tyson
(2010, p. 463) claim that plagiarism is growing at a rapid rate, and universities are now required
to devote enough time and resources to combating it. South African universities have also
found themselves to be victims of plagiarism. To prevent increased levels of plagiarism in
South Africa, Stellenbosch University (SU) promotes the use of Turnitin. The study described
in this thesis investigated postgraduate students’ and lecturer’s perceptions and attitudes
regarding plagiarism and interacting with Turnitin at the University of Stellenbosch Business
School to fill a research gap, as up to this point, this topic has not been studied. The study
adopted a mixed methods approach, which combined both quantitative and qualitative
methods. Moreover, the theory of planned behaviour informed the study.
The results show that a majority of the students and lecturers in the study were aware of
plagiarism and anti-plagiarism software, particularly Turnitin. However, the majority of
students still plagiarised intentionally, owing to factors that influenced their intention to
plagiarise, such as laziness and poor time management, and unintentionally, owing to poor
language, writing and referencing skills. The majority of students (98%) agreed that they made
use of anti-plagiarism software. Moreover, 80% of the students indicated that the use of antiplagiarism
software contributed to the promotion of academic integrity. Similarly, all lecturers
interviewed indicated that anti-plagiarism software helped to promote and improve academic
integrity
Electronic book usage amongst academic librarians in South Africa
Get PDFMagister Bibliothecologiae - MBiblAmongst university libraries e-books are gaining wider interest since the introduction of portable electronic reading devices and software-based readers. With the growing electronic environment within universities, a need for competent and knowledgeable librarians has come to the forefront of information seeking and use. The research question addressed in this study is to what extent are e-books being used among academic librarians in their work environment? The purpose of this study was to investigate the usage of e-books amongst academic librarians;
in particular which e-books are available to academic librarians, why they choose this format, what impact e-books have on librarians’ professional practice and what the usage patterns of ebooks are amongst academic librarians. The methodology used to collect the data is survey research. An electronic questionnaire was
distributed on the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) mailing list. The population sample for this study was the subject and reference librarians at South African university libraries who all subscribe to the LIASA mailing list. A user study is the theory that frames this research. The purpose of the user study was to obtain an overview of users’ habits, preferences, and conventions when interacting with in this case, ebooks in a work environment. The majority of user studies concerns clients of the library such as students or academics and how they search for information or what they want from a library service. This particular study is different. The academic librarians are the users in this instance and their use of e-books in their professional work the focus of the study. The results revealed that academic librarians (48% of respondents) would often select the e-book version before print materials if available within their institutions. The results reflect more a gradual trend towards e-book uptake. There is still a preference for print or a “bit of both” – print and electronic. This is because of the high costs of e-books using the subscription model as the predominant e-book acquisition model and the lack of sufficient e-books in all subject fields. Ebooks are used for “browsing for information” and are selected for functionalities such as having the ability to search the document, anytime access and automatic citation. Major problems identified with e-books are (1) the cost of the equipment to read e-book formats, (2) the cost of the e-books especially if the subscription purchasing model is used, (3) the reliability of the internet and (4) the lack of training in how to use e-books. The study concludes by making recommendations for further research
Cape Town City Libraries: 1952-1972
Get PDFMagister Artium - MAThe purpose of the study is to investigate the history and development of the Cape Town City
Libraries (CTCL) from 1952-1972 and examine the effect of apartheid legislation on establishing a public library system. The study looks at one library service, how it was established, how it adapted to the political and social forces of the time and the services it delivered. Data was sourced from the surviving CTCL archives, interviewing people who worked for CTCL and researching relevant material in the National Library and Archives.
Public libraries have aims and functions which are underpinned by a philosophy of free and equal access to all and access to knowledge and books. IFLA defines a public library as an organization that: provides access to knowledge, information and works of imagination through a range of resources and services and is equally available to all members of the community regardless of race, nationality, age, gender, religion, language… (Koontz & Gubbins, 2010). Legislation introduced by the National Party enforced segregation and controlled access to knowledge and books which brought CTCL into conflict with library philosophy. This legislation determined who the CTCL could serve, where they could serve them and what they could serve them. The findings show that CTCL extended the library service to more people and increased the number of facilities, membership and circulation but in a segregated manner. Censorship legislation affected library stock but also induced self-censorship amongst librarians further restricting what was available to patrons. Staff were treated differently because of their racial grou
The 21st century academic library: the case of three state universities in Zimbabwe
Get PDFMagister Library and Information Studies - MLISThe advent of the 21st century and its dynamic information environment have changed higher
education considerably including the library spaces. Library patrons, namely undergraduates,
postgraduates, and academics are placing heavy demands on academic libraries requiring support
in research, teaching and learning. As a result, academic librarians globally have undertaken major
re-evaluations of what they do and how they do it, to ensure relevance amongst their diverse user
communities. The new information landscape is fraught with controversies that prompt opposing
perspectives towards change acceptance amongst librarians. In Zimbabwe, academic libraries
seemed to be lagging behind regarding changes presented by this information landscape. Given
this context, the study sought to understand how librarians are adjusting to the 21st century
environment against the expectations of the students and academics. The Diffusion of Innovation
Theory crafted by Rogers (2003) and the McKinsey 7S model propounded by Waterman, Peters
and Phillips (1982) were used as theoretical and conceptual frameworks. The research further
applied a conceptual framework from the literature to determine the expectations of students and
academics of the academic library in the 21st century. For data collection, the study adopted a case
study design and a mixed methods approach using Web-based questionnaires, follow-up
interviews and website content analysis. Data was collected from students, academics and
librarians at three selected Zimbabwean universities. All data collecting tools were pre-tested
amongst librarians, academics, postgraduate and undergraduate students prior to collecting data.
Data collected using questionnaires was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
(SPSS) and Microsoft Excel while interview data was analysed using thematic text analysis.
Findings of this study revealed that the Midlands State University Library had to a larger extent
embraced new trends which are in-line with the 21st century environment compared to the National
University of Science and Technology and Lupane State University libraries. The Library and
Information Science qualification remains important in service delivery among academic
librarians. Inadequate funding, limited time due to multitasking, slow uptake of new concepts and
limited knowledge and skills were barriers to keeping up with new trends amongst librarians.
Academic librarians collaborated with academics in collection development, Information Literacy
Skills (ILS) teaching and uploading theses and research papers into the Institution Repository (IR)
Public libraries going green: environmental sustainability and green information literacy
Get PDFMasters of ArtThere is a great demand for human beings all over the world to live in a more green way, due to the earth’s natural resource scarcity and other environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, emission of greenhouse gases, global warming and depletion of the ozone layer.
Librarians, especially public librarians, are seen as the facilitators of access to information. Public librarians are thus in a position to create awareness of the importance of green living and to educate the general public on how to live green
The role of school libraries in supporting an inquiry based approach for teaching and learning science subjects in senior secondary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Get PDFPhilosophiae Doctor - PhDThe purpose of this study is to investigate the role of school libraries in supporting an inquiry
based approach for teaching and learning science subjects in senior secondary schools in
Ekiti State, Nigeria. The significance of this study revolves round the prominence given to
science education being a mechanism for realising national advancement in Nigeria. This
was emphasised in the Nigeria National Policy on Education (2013) as the Federal
Government of Nigeria adopted science education as an instrument for effecting national
development. This study addressed the following research questions: What is the status of
secondary school libraries in Ekiti State, Nigeria? To what extent does the quality of library
resources influence science curriculum implementation? To what extent do science teachers
advocate using information resources beyond textbooks
The use of Web 2.0 technologies by Library and Information Science students at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa
Get PDFMagister Bibliothecologiae - MBiblThe purpose of this research was to investigate the use of Web 2.0 technologies by
Library and Information Science (LIS) students at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). This research provided answers to the following questions: • Which Web 2.0 technologies are used mostly by LIS students? • What do LIS students use Web 2.0 technologies for? • How is the LIS curriculum crafted to include training on Web 2.0 technologies? • What benefits (gratifications) do LIS students derive from the use of Web 2.0 technologies? • Which Web 2.0 technologies are LIS students being taught? Blumer and Katz’s (1974) Uses and Gratification Theory which explains the reasons behind people’s use of Web 2.0 technologies was used to provide meaning to the research findings. A mixed methods case approach was used in this study and as a result, a questionnaire, content analysis and interviews were used to collect data. Findings of this study revealed that, between 72% and 97% of the LIS students do have accounts on the following Web 2.0 technologies: YouTube, Skype, Google Apps, WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook. It has been highlighted in this research that LIS students use Web 2.0 technologies for both academic and general purposes. Over 80% of the LIS students use Web 2.0 technologies for entertainment, keeping up-to-date, and meeting people as well as for communication with peers and lecturers. Analysis of the LIS Department’s curriculum documents, assignments as well as key informant interviews revealed that, while a module entitled "Web 2.0" does not exist, elements of Web 2.0 technologies are embedded in some of the LIS modules. The research results also showed that, between 89.4% and 96.5% of the LIS students either agreed or strongly agreed that Web 2.0 technologies plays a significant role in improving technology proficiency, extending learning beyond the classroom, providing a platform for entertainment, facilitating collaborative learning, improving
knowledge sharing and collaboration, providing cheaper and efficient communication platforms, providing easier and faster access to information; and that a low level of complexity is needed to use Web 2.0 technologies (ease of use). Ninety five per cent of the LIS students indicated that they support the inclusion of Web 2.0 technologies in the LIS curriculum a sentiment also shared by five of the interviewed key informants. Based on the research findings the researcher has recommended that the LIS curriculum should be regularly renewed to address new trends and technologies
The use of web 2.0 by students and lecturers at Mzuzu University, Malawi: the case of the Faculty of Information Science and Communications
Get PDFMagister Artium - MAThe aim of the study was focused on investigating how Web 2.0 technologies are being utilised by students and lecturers to accomplish their learning and teaching activities in the Faculty of Information Science and Communications (ISC) at Mzuzu University in Malawi. The study answers the following specific research questions:
• What is the current awareness of and familiarity with Web 2.0 technologies amongst students and lecturers in the Faculty of ISC?
• For what educational purpose do students and lecturers in the Faculty of ISC use Web 2.0 technologies and which Web 2.0 technologies do they use most?
• What do lecturers in the Faculty of ISC perceive as benefits of integrating Web 2.0 technologies in teaching and learning?
• What are the factors that influence students and lecturers in the Faculty of ISC to adopt Web 2.0 technologies?
The study adopted the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (DTPB) by Taylor and Todd (1995) which explains the rejection and acceptance of technological innovations such as Web 2.0. The researcher adopted a case study design in which both qualitative and quantitative data were collected to answer the research problem. The study was conducted in three phases; in phase one, a questionnaire was sent to 186 students and 19 lecturers, phase two involved analysing the curricula and phase three involved conducting follow-up interviews with seven lecturers to seek clarification on some concepts and elaboration on themes identified in phases one and two. The findings show that between 69 (50.7%) and 128 (94.1%) students use these Web 2.0 technologies to search for information, to communicate with lecturers, to submit assignments, to communicate with friends on academic work and to share content with fellow students. Most lecturers use these technologies in handing out assignments to students, receiving feedback from students, uploading lecture notes, searching for content, storing lecture notes and carrying out collaborative educational activities. Between 66 (45.8%) and 95 (69.9%) students use Wikipedia, WhatsApp, Google Apps and YouTube and similarly, between 10 (58.8%) and 13 (76.5%) lecturers use Wikipedia, YouTube, Blog, Google Apps and Twitter to accomplish various academic activities. The findings show further that attitude (perceived usefulness, ease of use and compatibility) and perceived behaviour control (self-efficacy, resource facilitating condition and technology facilitating condition) are strong DTPB factors that determine students’ and lecturers’ intention to integrate Web 2.0 technologies in their academic activities. On the other hand, lack of Internet access remains the recurrent key stumbling blocks towards a successful adoption of Web 2.0 technologies in learning and teaching at Mzuzu University (MZUNI). Generally, the study reveals that Web 2.0 and a compendium of Internet technologies have proliferated at Mzuzu University in the Faculty of ISC. Both students and lecturers are aware, to some extent, of the benefits of integrating Web 2.0 in teaching and learning. The researcher has made three main recommendations which include the need for the Faculty of ISC to introduce awareness and training programmes on the new technologies so that students and lecturers are kept up-to-date about the new developments about these technologies, the need for the newly established Directorate of ICT at MZUNI to promote the use of Web 2.0 technologies by conducting work workshops and sourcing funds for students and lecturers to participate in local and international conferences on Web 2.0 and finally, the need for Mzuzu University to install campus–wide Wi-Fi so that students and lecturers can seamlessly access the Internet on every point of the campus using mobile phones or laptops
Use of social media tools by library staff at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa and the National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe.
Get PDFMagister Artium - MAAcademic libraries in the economically developed countries have taken the lead in adopting and appropriating various social media platforms to enhance services offered to their patrons. However, there are many unanswered questions on how libraries in the economically developing countries of the South, Africa in particular, are using social media in their service delivery, as well as in the personal lives of their librarians. Against this backdrop, this study investigated how librarians at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Zimbabwe deploy and appropriate social media technologies. It examined the familiarity, benefits, challenges as well as the factors shaping and constraining the use of social media by academic librarians in the two institutions. In doing so, the study adopted the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by Fred Davis (1989) as its conceptual framework. Methodologically, the study deployed a Web-based questionnaire (administered via e-mail) with 59 academic librarians at UWC and 40 academic librarians at NUST. To ensure the validity of the study the questionnaire was pretested among a few librarians at the NUST. The findings of the study show that UWC librarians are more adept at appropriating social media applications than NUST librarians. The study further revealed that UWC librarians are directly in charge of managing social media whereas at NUST the Information Technology (IT) department is responsible for managing the applications. Similarly, while UWC Library largely uses social media for marketing their services, NUST library uses the platforms for reference services. The study also notes that there is a thin line between personal and professional uses of social media. In particular, personal uses of the platforms have a direct influence on their use in work-related contexts. Some of the motivating factors for the use of social media by librarians across both universities are: patron demand, low cost, ease of use and functionality. The study also highlights the factors militating against the effective use social media and recommends that library management for both institutions should put in place supportive policies to encourage their effective use for the benefit of service users
An investigation into the use of electronic resources by postgraduate students in the department of postgraduate studies in education at the Central University of Technology
No full textMasters of ArtLibraries use technology to improve the management of scholarly information and to provide faster access to information elsewhere. Over time, an important change was perceived in collection development policies and practices of libraries. Printed materials were increasingly replacing electronic forms of information.
This research investigated the use of electronic resources by Postgraduate certificate Education (PGCE) students at the Central University of Technology (CUT). The research adopted the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by Fred Davis (1989) as its theoretical framework
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