Research Paper: Academic Dishonesty Haifa Nesheiwat

Academic dishonesty is a global issue. Narrowing down the focus to Americans,

this behavior is seen amongst both men and women. However, the question researched

whether men or women more likely to engage in academic dishonesty. After reviewing

many journal articles regarding this topic, the concluding hypothesis stated that men are

more likely to engage in academic dishonesty. In addition, the research paper includes

two variables: Gender, the independent variable, and academic misconduct, the

dependent variable.

There are many journal articles that support my hypothesis. Amongst the six

references, I will elaborate on two elements providing what each article is talking about

and how it will be used to support my argument.

Much to my dismay, a common characteristic that frequently appears in these

articles took the influence in employing the amount of guilt, or perhaps more

significantly, the justifications behind this misconduct.

In 2002, Margaret Fields wrote the Influence of Psychological Type, Self Esteem,

Gender on Academic Dishonesty of Student in Higher Education. This discussed the

major issues behind why students engage in this behavior. It argues that there are other

factors influencing the action. Reporting that “certain aspects of psychological type” are

possible indicators for this frequency. Studies were conducted amongst undergraduate

students; questionnaires and surveyed were distributed, examined, studied, and measured

the relation, if any, lead to gender. Discussing few theories, not saying I agree with all

proposed theories but some ideas do reassure my supposition. Theories took into

accountability the self-esteem, gender into simultaneous assessment. A male is

susceptible to all those aspects; theories that conceptualizes the associated reasons why

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Research Paper: Academic Dishonesty Haifa Nesheiwat

men are more likely to cheat. The results from the participants calculated the “self-esteem

and gender” correlation; the study backs up the information from previous credible

research.

Second article of focus determines the influences of why men are more likely to

cheat. By using a “integrated analysis”, the “Circumstances Surrounding Cheating: A

Questionnaire Study of College Students” exhibited examples leading to questions

weighing risks and benefits. It uses “experimental and nonexperimental evidence”

making the study all the more credible, viable information. By comprehending the

studies, they also predicted certain factors, of which is backed up by the composed study

discussed later on, and suggested ways restructuring prohibitions for academic

delinquency. In addition, weighing the costs of getting caught was compared to the

actual concept of learning.

Third article is traditionally formed in that it favors principles and values when

dealing with cheating, precisely speaking academic misconduct. Ethics and behavior

coincide with the “fraudulent excuse[s]” from the observed demographic individuals.

“Lying and Cheating: Fraudulent Excuse Making, Cheating, and Plagiarism” published in

2005 provides a calculated percentage of students whom claim to have engaged or

participated in cheating whether it consist of fictional excuses or violating academic

ethics enabled by technologies advancement of “copy and paste”. As I will argue in

discussion more in depth, this assists the amount of self-esteem in gender or self-

confidence when compared to academics women are far less likely to make excuses since

they are usually ethically bound by guilty consequences.

Fourth article to review lead to the “ Origins of Academic Dishonesty: Ethical

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Research Paper: Academic Dishonesty Haifa Nesheiwat

Orientations and Personality Factors Associated with Attitudes about Cheating with

Information Technology”. This widespread phenomenon is more commonly used than we

noticeably see.