Managing Research Support Services for Academic Integrity Among Postgraduate Students in Cross River State Public Universities, Nigeria.

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@article{1707845,
      author = {Dr. Okon, Effionwan Effiom, Dr. Winifred, Harry Emu, Emmanuel Ekpenyong Okon},
      title = {Managing Research Support Services for Academic Integrity Among Postgraduate Students in Cross River State Public Universities, Nigeria.},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2025},
      volume = {8},
      number = {10},
      pages = {1335-1348},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1707845.pdf},
      abstract = {This study employed a descriptive survey design to investigate the management of research support services for academic integrity among postgraduate students in public universities in Cross River State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 850 postgraduate students and 150 academic staff across three universities using a census approach for staff (N = 150) and stratified random sampling for students (n = 400). A 35-item validated questionnaire, Research Support Services and Academic Integrity Questionnaire (RSSAIQ), structured into four sections?availability/accessibility of resources, perceived impact, challenges, and demographics?was administered physically and electronically, achieving a 100% response rate. Reliability was confirmed via Cronbach?s Alpha (? = 0.89). Descriptive statistics (mean, SD) and independent t-tests analyzed data at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed significant gaps in research support services, including inadequate access to plagiarism detection tools (M = 4.23, SD = 2.52) and overreliance on artificial intelligence (M = 4.26, SD = 2.45), which compromised academic integrity and research quality. Challenges such as insufficient mentorship, fragmented ethics training, and institutional inequities further hindered effective service management. Differences in perceptions between students and staff (p < 0.05) underscored systemic disconnects in resource allocation and policy implementation. The study concludes that strengthening research support services?through technological investments, standardized policies, ethics-integrated curricula, and robust mentorship frameworks?is critical to fostering academic integrity. Recommendations include institutionalizing plagiarism software, reducing student-supervisor ratios, and establishing transparent accountability mechanisms. These reforms are vital to aligning Cross River State?s postgraduate education with global scholarly standards and mitigating risks of academic misconduct. Ethical approval was secured, and participant anonymity prioritized throughout the research.},
      keywords = {Research support services, academic integrity, Postgraduate students, Universities.},
      month = {April},
  }