Examination cheating attitudes and intentions of students in a Ghanaian polytechnic

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article examined the examination cheating behaviors and attitudes of students in a polytechnic in Ghana. The influence of personal factors on academic dishonesty was assessed using descriptive and inferential statistics following the administration of questionnaires to a cross-section of 384 students selected conveniently. Copying of answers among students was the most common method of cheating during examinations. A statistically significant proportion of male students than female students self-reported academic dishonesty. Engineering students self-reported more academic dishonesty than hospitality students did. Students were indifferent toward reporting observed peer cheating. Peer cheating was found to be a strong predictor of academic dishonesty alongside intention to cheat. This implies that examination cheating will become recurrent and rampant among students unless it is made costly by enforcing punitive measures to serve as deterrent to students who observe peer cheating.