QUALITY ASSURANCE MECHANISMS FOR QUALITY RESEARCH OUTPUTS OF STEM LECTURERS IN UNIVERSITIES IN RIVERS STATE: ISSUES ON PLAGIARISM

Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating the quality assurance mechanisms for managing the research
outputs of STEM lecturers in universities in Rivers State. The study is a descriptive survey with a
population of 993 lecturers and a sample size of 160 STEM lecturers obtained through purposive and
simple random sampling techniques. The instrument used for data collection was a self-structured
questionnaire tagged “Quality Assurance Mechanisms for Research Outputs Questionnaire”
(QAMROQ). The instrument was designed after the modified 4-point Likert rating scale of Strongly
Agree (SA), Agree (A), Disagree (D), and Strongly Disagree (SD) with numerical values of 4, 3, 2,
and 1 respectively. The instrument was face validated by two experts. A reliability coefficient of 0.80
was established through Pearson Product Moment Correlation coefficient. Data collected was
analysed using mean scores. While a mean value of 2.50 was used as benchmark for the interpretation
of results. The result revealed among others the institutional mechanisms for managing STEM
lecturers’ research outputs as self-review, peer review, external quality assessment, and review panel.
The technological mechanisms were identified as Computer-Based Plagiarism Detector, Turnitin,
Copy-Catch-Gold, Quetext, and Word-Check. Based on the findings, it was recommended among
others that Deans of faculties should ensure the effective use of quality assurance mechanisms in
producing quality research outputs in their faculties