iThenticate at the University of Melbourne
A new text-matching tool for research staff and graduate researchers.
iThenticate is a text-matching tool that enables researchers and graduate researchers to compare their traditional research writing drafts with an extensive database of research literature. Using iThenticate throughout the writing process can help to identify and address potential instances of problematic matching text and weak writing practices.
The use of iThenticate by researchers and graduate researchers has been endorsed by the University of Melbourne Research Ethics and Integrity Strategy Committee.
iThenticate is the leading technology in the area of detecting text similarity in research and many scholarly journal publishers use iThenticate to check manuscript submissions before publication. Documents submitted to iThenticate are not stored and searchable in any comparison database. iThenticate allows research groups to use the tool collectively by permitting users to choose to share their similarity reports with other users.
It is important to note that while iThenticate can identify areas of writing that match text from existing literature, further assessment by the author, supervisor, or other experts in the field is also required to ensure the originality of the work before submission and/or publication.
For any assistance with iThenticate, please submit a request in ServiceNow via Staff Services or Student Services.
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Access and Use
A pilot project testing iThenticate is currently underway at the University of Melbourne. After the pilot, iThenticate will be implemented University-wide for all graduate research students and researchers. For all enquiries relating to the pilot, please contact Tom Wright, Research Integrity Officer: wright.t@unimelb.edu.au.
iThenticate will be available to researchers and graduate researchers at the University of Melbourne for their research produced in connection with the University of Melbourne. Users will be permitted to use iThenticate to check only their own writing and writing that they have co-authored. iThenticate will not be able to be used by staff when marking or reviewing someone else’s writing. It will be advised that iThenticate is used to check drafts and final versions of manuscripts prior to submission for publication. Graduate researchers will also be advised to check their research writing drafts throughout the thesis writing process, especially before submitting for confirmation and final submission.
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Support and Training
iThenticate users are advised to read the following resources produced by the University of Melbourne:
Additional training materials and information can be accessed via the iThenticate website and user guide.
For all enquiries relating to iThenticate, please submit a request for assistance in ServiceNow via Staff Services or Student Services.
If you are concerned or confused about your iThenticate similarity report and/or the originality of your writing drafts, the following steps are advised:
- Discuss and share the similarity reports with your supervisor if you are a graduate researcher.
- Submit a request for assistance in ServiceNow via Staff Services or Student Services. A Research Integrity Officer and/or a discipline specific Research Integrity Advisor will get in touch to provide advice and tools to address these concerns with an educative response.
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Policies
iThenticate has been provided to the University of Melbourne researchers and graduate research students in accordance with the following policies:
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Related links
For more information and resources about Research and Academic Integrity and writing skills at the University of Melbourne, please visit:
