Students’ Cheating Behaviour in Higher Education System: Reconnoitring the Academic Integrity from the Accounting Students Perspectives

Abstract

The cheating behaviour is regarded as unethical and unlawful action. When this behaviour infected the academic field, it is an alarming situation and is a very serious problem which needs a great attention. This paper concerns on students cheating behaviour in higher education system. This study is conducted towards the accounting students as the sample in order to assess an understanding about their perception towards this unethical behaviour. It is important to address the students cheating behaviour in the education system and to find a quick solution for this problem. If this behaviour is not well mitigated, it might be continually practiced in the workplace and the problem will evolve to become other types of cheating, fraud or other malpractices. Empirical results show that the students’ perceptions on seriousness of cheating behaviour depend on how the cheating behaviour is committed. It is supported by 61 % of the respondents agree that they had copied in any examination at the university while completing the course. Further analysis shows afraid of failing (64.2 %), not enough time (55.8 %) and need to get better marks (55 %) are the justifications used for committing cheating behaviour. Meanwhile the technique of cheating indicate copying from Internet (76.9 %), copying from book (64.5 %) and lecturer guidance (63.6 %) are the most popular techniques used by the respondents.