Undergraduate students’ views on academic dishonesty

Abstract

Studies have shown that academic dishonesty is a complex and a growing problem worldwide. The aim of this study is to explain the personal philosophy and understandings of students about academic dishonesty. The research is based on semistructured interviews with 26 undergraduate students. The results of the study indicate that undergraduate students mostly regard academic dishonesty as cheating on exams and giving answers to their fellow students. Participants inter alia mentioned reasons regarding academic dishonesty the indifferent attitude of university teachers who, as if, prompt and encourage students to cheat and who themselves also provide a negative model for students. The reasons behind academic dishonesty are associated with the widespread use of it in comprehensive schools and the internet makes participating in academic dishonesty easier for students. To reduce academic dishonesty the following option is mentioned: students should be interested in and should try to acquaint themselves with teaching methods of the members of university teachers. Understanding how undergraduate students think about academic dishonesty and their attitudes towards it could help reduce incidences of academic dishonesty. Keywords: Academic dishonesty, plagiarism, undergraduate students, cheating, qualitative study.