- Upholding academic integrity is key to ensuring that assignments and research works are ethical and credible.
- Academic integrity is closely associated with the core values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage (International Center for Academic Integrity, 2021).
- Unacceptable academic misconduct refers to actions that violate academic integrity, such as “breaches of examination regulations, cheating, plagiarism, impersonation, purchase of examination material, data falsification and other acts which dishonestly use information to gain academic credit” (National Academic Integrity Network, 2021).
Plagiarism is a violation of academic integrity, as it refers to the behaviour of using another’s content without acknowledging the source or giving credit to the author (American Psychological Association, 2022). Thus, it is necessary to properly acknowledge and cite the sources of other people’s ideas and/or written materials to avoid plagiarism.
The Library is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting academic integrity. This set of guidance notes highlights the tools and resources as well as the library support services for maintaining academic integrity in teaching, learning and research.
Library Guide: Citation & Referencing – Cite the sources and avoid plagiarism
This comprehensive guide illustrates the practice of referencing, which means acknowledging authors and sources of information by citing relevant publication details in assignments and research works. In addition, a concise APA (7th ed.) Referencing Guide with explanatory examples is available on the Library website.
EndNote – Manage citations
Current students and staff at SFU have access to EndNote, a reference management software that helps store and organize bibliographic information, create in-text citations, and compile reference lists. Click here to download the tool and view the instructions for use.
Library Workshops – Acquire essential citation management skills
The Library regularly organizes workshops for students and staff to acquire essential skills for citing references. The fundamentals of academic integrity, the APA referencing style as well as the hands-on guidelines on creating in-text citations and reference lists using EndNote are covered. These sessions are designed primarily to promote the best practices in academic writing.
AI and Academic Integrity – Highlight user responsibilities in using AI
With the increasing integration of AI in scholarly writing, strong emphasis is now placed on the appropriate use of AI and the preservation of academic integrity.
Library Guide: Citation & Referencing – Cite the sources and avoid plagiarism
This comprehensive guide illustrates the practice of referencing, which means acknowledging authors and sources of information by citing relevant publication details in assignments and research works. In addition, a concise APA (7th ed.) Referencing Guide with explanatory examples is available on the Library website.
EndNote – Manage citations
Current students and staff at SFU have access to EndNote, a reference management software that helps store and organize bibliographic information, create in-text citations, and compile reference lists. Click here to download the tool and view the instructions for use.
Library Workshops – Acquire essential citation management skills
The Library regularly organizes workshops for students and staff to acquire essential skills for citing references. The fundamentals of academic integrity, the APA referencing style as well as the hands-on guidelines on creating in-text citations and reference lists using EndNote are covered. These sessions are designed primarily to promote the best practices in academic writing.
AI and Academic Integrity – Highlight user responsibilities in using AI
With the increasing integration of AI in scholarly writing, strong emphasis is now placed on the appropriate use of AI and the preservation of academic integrity.
The SFU staff and students are provided with access to databases with AI-powered features which facilitate resource searching and streamline research processes.
Discovery Search AI – Optimize research efficiency
AI-powered and connected to the library Discovery Search platform, this generative tool helps users locate library resources more conveniently and effectively. For instructions of use, please refer to Discovery Search AI guide.
JSTOR (AI Research Tool) – Support reading and analysis
This tool consists of an AI-powered feature* which helps users quickly analyze academic content by summarizing the texts and key ideas.
*A personal account is needed for using this feature.
User Guide: [AI research tool]
ProQuest (Research Assistant) – Grasp the content efficiently
An AI tool integrated into ProQuest databases that supports users in locating, analyzing, and comprehending academic content
User Guide: [Introducing ProQuest Research Assistant]
ScienceDirect (Reading Assistant) – Save time to understand the texts
An AI-driven tool* that helps simplify academic content by summarizing texts, highlighting key ideas, and recommending other relevant sources for further exploration
*A personal account is needed to view the full response.
User Guide: [Generative AI Reading Assistant]
Scite AI Assistant – Obtain reference-based answers
A research tool that provides users with verifiable, reference-based answers. The responses are cited with source details.
User Guide: [Scite Assistant - AI for Researchers]
Web of Science Research Assistant – Streamline research workflows
An AI-powered tool that helps refine research processes by providing task-based guidance, accelerating discovery of relevant scholarly resources, and combining citation data
User Guide: [Enhance your research with trusted generative and agentic AI capabilities]
Discovery Search AI – Optimize research efficiency
AI-powered and connected to the library Discovery Search platform, this generative tool helps users locate library resources more conveniently and effectively. For instructions of use, please refer to Discovery Search AI guide.
JSTOR (AI Research Tool) – Support reading and analysis
This tool consists of an AI-powered feature* which helps users quickly analyze academic content by summarizing the texts and key ideas.
*A personal account is needed for using this feature.
User Guide: [AI research tool]
ProQuest (Research Assistant) – Grasp the content efficiently
An AI tool integrated into ProQuest databases that supports users in locating, analyzing, and comprehending academic content
User Guide: [Introducing ProQuest Research Assistant]
ScienceDirect (Reading Assistant) – Save time to understand the texts
An AI-driven tool* that helps simplify academic content by summarizing texts, highlighting key ideas, and recommending other relevant sources for further exploration
*A personal account is needed to view the full response.
User Guide: [Generative AI Reading Assistant]
Scite AI Assistant – Obtain reference-based answers
A research tool that provides users with verifiable, reference-based answers. The responses are cited with source details.
User Guide: [Scite Assistant - AI for Researchers]
Web of Science Research Assistant – Streamline research workflows
An AI-powered tool that helps refine research processes by providing task-based guidance, accelerating discovery of relevant scholarly resources, and combining citation data
User Guide: [Enhance your research with trusted generative and agentic AI capabilities]
When using AI-powered research tools or databases, university guidelines on the appropriate use of AI must be followed and academic integrity should be upheld. While AI tools and features are designed to facilitate critical review, careful analysis and proper citation management remain vital in academic writing. Failure to meet these responsibilities may constitute a breach of academic integrity.
GenAI Policy FAQ for Students – Guidelines on the ethical use of AI
Under the GenAI Policy published by the Quality Assurance Office, course instructors can decide if the use of AI-powered research tools are permitted in assignments. Students should seek instructor’s guidance when they are unsure about the ethical and responsible use of AI.
Responsible and ethical use of AI in academic writing – Concerns over AI use
Published by the American Psychological Association, the blog post explains some potential issues and risks that may arise when incorporating AI tools into scholarly writing. The recommended strategies include cautious review and verification of AI-generated content.
Citing generative AI in APA Style – Guidelines on how to cite AI-generated information
Published by the American Psychological Association, the blog post demonstrates how generative AI tools and AI-generated content can be cited properly in academic writing.
GenAI Policy FAQ for Students – Guidelines on the ethical use of AI
Under the GenAI Policy published by the Quality Assurance Office, course instructors can decide if the use of AI-powered research tools are permitted in assignments. Students should seek instructor’s guidance when they are unsure about the ethical and responsible use of AI.
Responsible and ethical use of AI in academic writing – Concerns over AI use
Published by the American Psychological Association, the blog post explains some potential issues and risks that may arise when incorporating AI tools into scholarly writing. The recommended strategies include cautious review and verification of AI-generated content.
Citing generative AI in APA Style – Guidelines on how to cite AI-generated information
Published by the American Psychological Association, the blog post demonstrates how generative AI tools and AI-generated content can be cited properly in academic writing.
