The Other Side of Cheating: Instructor Culpability in Student Cheating Shari M. Prior, Ph.D. College of Saint Mary, Omaha, NE

Objectives Identify ways in which faculty behavior encourages (or does not discourage) cheating Apply key ethical principles that underlie faculty responsibilities Evaluate faculty behaviors that both do and don’t foster an atmosphere of honesty and trust.

Background Prevalence of cheating Focus on the student Deterrence efforts Punishment Image from: http://abovethelaw.com/uploads/2012/05/cheating-student-bw1.jpg

The blame game Given that students are responsible for their own choices, is it fair to blame instructors for cheating? Blame is limitless.

Why do they cheat? Attitude Ambiguity Opportunity Social norms Stress Competition Ambiguity Assignment details Collaboration vs. collusion Opportunity Technology Instructor apathy Image from: http://blogs.artvoice.com/avdaily/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/why-not-300x194.gif

Limits of scope Rationalizing vs. Ethical Reasoning I don’t need to know this for my major Everybody does it The instructor doesn’t care I’m out of time I’ll do whatever it takes The expectations are unreasonable The benefits outweigh the risks She didn’t say we couldn’t

The Importance of Ethics Trust Respect Responsibility Justice Image from: https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTd7iqWE4jRaazQkHwNpKGamE3RmYrG41bzkjUpOsrmwGqtRg76PA

The take-away Highlight ethical considerations Clarify and repeat expectations Be consistent Pay attention Apply consequences Refine, revise, redo

Resources – Prevalence & Responses Bernardi, R. A., Baca, A. V., Landers, K. S., & Witek, M. B. (2008). Methods of Cheating and Deterrents to Classroom Cheating: An International Study. Ethics & Behavior, 373-391. Brent, E., & Atkisson, C. (2011). Accounting for Cheating: An Evolving Theory and Emergent Themes. Research in Higher Education, 640-658. Heckler, N. C., Forde, D. R., & Hobson, B. (2012). Using Writing Assignment Designs to Mitigate Plagiarism. Teaching Sociology, 94-105. Lee, D. E. (2009). Cheating in the Classroom: Beyond Policing. The Clearing House, 171-174. McCabe, D. L. (2001). Cheating in Academic Institutions: A Decade of Research. Ethics & Behavior, 219-232. Rettinger, D. A., & Kramer, Y. (2009). Situational and Personal Causes of Student Cheating. Research in Higher Education, 293-313. Richards, P. (2012). Academic Integrity: A Case for Good Teaching. School Matters, 96-98.

Resources – Ethics & Responsibility Akeley, J. S., & Miller, A. N. (2012). The Effects of Fear Appeals and Moral Appeals on Cheating-Related Attitudes and Behaviors of University Students. Ethics & Behavior, 196-207. Coren, A. (2011). Turning a Blind Eye: Faculty Who Ignore Student Cheating. Journal of Academic Ethics, 291-305. Hinman, L. (2002). Academic Integrity and the World Wide Web. Computers and Society, 33-42. Miller, A., Shoptaugh, C., & Wooldridge, J. (2011). Reasons Not to Cheat, Academic-Integrity Responsibility, and Frequency in Cheating. The Journal of Experimental Education, 169-184. Parameswaran, A. (2007). Student Dishonesty and Faculty Responsibility. Teaching in Higher Education, 263-274. Sutton, A., & Taylor, D. (2011). Confusion about collusion: working together and academic integrity. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 831-841. Wowra, S. A. (2007). Moral Identities, Social Anxiety, and Academic Dishonesty Among American College Students. Ethics & Behavior, 303-321.

Resources – Academic & Workplace Ethics Harding, T. S., Carpenter, D. D., Finelli, C. J., & Passow, H. J. (2004). Does Academic Dishonesty Relate to Unethical Behavior in Professional Practice? An Exploratory Study. Science and Engineering Ethics, 311-324. Lovett-Hooper, G., Komarraju, M., Weston, R., & Dollinger, S. (2007). Is Plagiarism a Forerunner of Other Deviance? Imagnied Futures of Academically Dishonest Students. Ethics & Behavior, 323-336. Nonis, S. & Swift, C. O. (2001). An Examination of the Relationship Between Academic Dishonesty and Workplace Dishonesty: A Multicampus investigation. Journal of Education for Business, 69-77. Zimney, S. T., & Roberson, D. U. (2008). Academic and Personal Dishonesty in College Students. North American Journal of Psychology, 291-312.