Cheating

Research studies and blogs are a great way to keep a pulse on trends and issues in education. After a brief online search on the “hottest topics” in education today, I couldn’t believe how many publications featured problems with academic honesty among high school and college students. One of the most succinct documents I found was based on research gathered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). In conjunction with the Ad Council’s Campaign to promote academic integrity, “Cheating is a Personal Foul (1999)” is a fact sheet to help educators and parents alike to understand its prevalence and its perception in society. Here are a few ideas to chew on:

• Some studies suggest that an increased emphasis on grades in the middle school years (ages 12-14) may contribute to more academic dishonesty.

• High school students are engaging more in cheating behaviors than in times past: “While about 20% of college students admitted to cheating in high school during the 1940’s, today between 75 and 98 percent of college students surveyed each year report having cheated in high school.”

• Interestingly, those closest to the issue might not appreciate its seriousness: “Fewer college officials (35%) believe that cheating is a problem in this country than do members of the public (41%).”

• Changes in views about cheating combined with greater difficulty in gaining college admission (Springer, Reider, & Morgan, 2013, p. 1-3) could perpetuate the problem

Of course, these statistics do not clearly describe who was in the sample. On the other hand, lest you think that Christian children do not engage in cheating, think again. Although less studied and often reported with patchy results, Christian students face the same temptation to engage in cheating as their secular counterparts. Fisher, Kim, Lee, and Sacks (1998) have suggested that although Christian teachings and values can help, they assert that “…there is no indication that these factors alone have much of an impact on cheating behaviors” (p. 5).

Research is replete with many explanations why students are engaging in greater academic dishonesty. Strom and Strom (2007), who conducted student opinion polls on the topic, found that students reported the following as reasons for cheating:

• “I need good grades to get into college.”
• “There is not enough time to do the work.”
• “Everyone else is cheating.”
• “This course is not important to me.”
• “Other: Which included the “lack of access to free, competent tutoring” and “Adults teach this kind of behavior by example” (p 107-108).

God’s Word is clear; we are not to lie or steal (Leviticus 19:11). How can we develop honest students? Some ideas:

• Teach God’s Word: I think one of the most important things parents and educators alike can do is to remind students who they are in Christ and Who they belong to. Many of the reasons that teens cheat seem to be rooted in concerns about “being good enough” or “getting from point A to point B.” Thank God we are sufficient in Christ, and He has our future covered (Jeremiah 29:11).

• Emphasize learning: Encourage students to gain an education and become life-long learners as opposed to just getting good grades. While getting good grades can be helpful in the short term, it should not be the main focus.

• Schools and families must be partners and work together to develop policies and procedures to safeguard learning and protect academic integrity. Clear expectations, careful monitoring, and creating a climate of “zero tolerance” can go a long way in promoting academic integrity.

References

“Cheating” Graphic retrieved from: http://www.moodlenews.com/tag/passwords/

Educational Testing Service. (1999). Cheating is a personal foul. Retrieved from http://www.glass-castle.com/clients/www-nocheating-org/adcouncil/research/cheatingfactsheet.html

Fisher, J., Kim, H., Lee, S. C., & Sacks, S. (1998). Stability of Religious Orientation and Academic Dishonesty. Journal Of Research On Christian Education, 7(1), 55-66.

Springer, S., Reider, J & Morgan, J. (2013. Admission matters: What students and parents need to know about getting into college. San Francisco: CA: Jossey-Bass.

Strom, P., & Strom, R. (2007). Cheating in Middle School and High School. The Educational Forum, 104-116. Retrieved from http://ww2.coastal.edu/jwinslow/tech/files/readings/cheatingmiddlehighschool.pdf