How Turnitin Is Turning Out: The User Experience of Graduate Students of the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines

Edward  Puzon,

How Turnitin Is Turning Out: The User Experience of Graduate Students of the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines

Abstract:

Research is a vital component in any formal educational endeavor at any level, most especially in graduate and postgraduate studies. This entails a variety of activities, and one requirement is the subjecting of manuscripts to similarity checkers to ascertain adherence to academic integrity, a process usually given less thought, particularly by the novice and uninitiated. Academic libraries play a crucial role in providing support to their institution's research activities likewise addressing patrons’ concerns through transactions that could transcend into the quality user experience. This qualitative study seeks to understand and describe what constitutes the user experience of twenty-one (21) purposively selected graduate students from the University of Santo Tomas (UST). Written responses of participants to open-ended questions pertaining to their utilization of the UST Miguel de Benavides Library’s Turnitin service were subjected to Thematic Analysis (TA). Findings revealed four (4) themes: concerns, distinction, advantages, and elation, captured in the model labeled, Spheres of Graduate Students' Library Turnitin User Experience, vividly encapsulate and characterize the user experience of the select group of library patrons who availed of the specific library online service during this time of the pandemic. Summarily, study findings offer significant insights to library stakeholders and policymakers in developing and designing programs and innovative strategies for the improvement of existing similar online and remote services with the provision of enhanced user experience as a key focus as seen through the lens of the library users. This study hopes to contribute to the existing body of knowledge towards the development, enhancement, or designing of programs and services through the innovative use and maximization of technology taken from the vantage point of the users of the remote service offered by the library as situated during a crisis for the improvement of ongoing online library services of similar nature.