This document discusses factors that contribute to academic dishonesty. It explores how personal values and goals can come into conflict with educational expectations and norms. Additionally, it examines how the availability of cheating services online and pressures from college subcultures can increase dishonest behavior. While technologies and policies aim to deter cheating, the document argues educational tools that improve self-efficacy may be the best defense by properly equipping students for academic success.

1. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
American Public University System
COLL100 Foundations of Online Learning

2. INTRODUCTION
Although a Honor Code is an established norm in academia reality suggest
breaches are common place. Any ethic that can not be supported by
personal values will suffer in it's implementation, this occurs because the
breach seems less important than the individuals goals/values.
This presentation will explore some factors of academic dishonesty and
identify the risk.

3. OVERVIEW
• Values & Goals
• Personal Values
• Goals
• Education vs Experience
• The Information Technology (IT) Age & Academic Dishonesty
• Cheating Services
• Anti-Cheating Technologies & Policies
• Educational Tools
• Personal Conflicts
• Self-efficacy
• Cost of Failure
• Pressures within College Subcultures

4. VALUES & GOALS
PERSONAL VALUES
While many personal values are derived from cultural values it is in personal
values where people resolve conflicts in cultural values. It is at the personal
level that is resolved. In the context of this presentation a student may resolve
to cheat if the value of learning comes into conflict with the value of success.

5. VALUES & GOALS
GOALS
Goals and goal setting are as important to education as the course material.
A goal should communicate the academic expectation. In the last few
decades it has received an increased amount of attention largely as a result
of the reforms sparked by the No Child Left Behind Act (Eccles & Wigfield,
2002, p. 498). Adult learns it can not ignore that academic and external goals
(family & work) may conflict. In the event of conflicts it is often up to the
student and their personal values to resolve.

6. VALUES & GOALS
EDUCATION VS EXPERIENCE
Which is more valuable?
• According to the Pew Research Center Millennial college graduates earn
about $17,500 more annually adults holding only a high school diploma.
(Taylor, Fry & Oates, 2014, p. 3).
• Shawna Ohm of Yahoo! Finance says “people who have worked longer
make more money than recent graduates with advanced degrees.” (2015).
She based this assertion off of a 2015 Study conducted by Georgetown
University.
Without a commitment to learning an education may become a quick box to
check on way to build a career.

7. IT AGE & ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
CHEATING SERVICES
Cheating in the 21st Century (2015)
Cheating in the 21st century (2015)

8. IT AGE & ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
CHEATING SERVICES
Since the dawn of the internet the web has united the world. Bringing like
minded people together with speed never before imagined. Confidentiality
ensured cheaters can thrive. Online you can find:
• People to write papers.
• People to take test.
• Answers, there are many sites the may are may not require a membership
with answers to standard test material.
• Published papers (just a quick copy & paste lots of rewording and you have
a research paper.
• And more….
Just a quick note to the class, never type “Cheating Services” into a search browser while kids are around.

9. IT AGE & ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
ANTI-CHEATING TECHNOLOGIES & POLICIES
A layer of anti-cheating technology (Turnitin for example) is a standard
practice for college to employ to prevent plagiarism. This coupled with
academic policy (Honor codes, goal setting, test proctors etc…) hopes to
reduce incidence of cheating in colleges. Sadly, any defensive effort is
primarily deterrent based and then reactive. The odds are stacked in favor of
a creative cheater.

10. IT AGE & ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
EDUCATIONAL TOOLS
Perhaps the best defenses against academic dishonesty are educational
tools. Whether it is open communication with the instructor, a myriad of books
on learning or one of hundreds of digital/online tools available to facilitate
student progress.
In July of 2015, a young boy of 10 was challenged to memorized one hundred
digits of Pi. He quickly grew frustrated & it was not long before he found a way
to cheat. The infraction was identified by his own admission and his parents
explored the causes. A lack of self-efficacy was identified and he was then
taught additional methods to assist in his effort. Once equipped he
accomplished the task without resorting to cheating again.
This experience would suggest that proper tools can facilitate an increase in
self-efficacy and may have the significant impact on reducing academic
dishonesty.

11. PERSONAL CONFLICTS
SELF-EFFICACY
According to Anderman & Murdock a lack of self-efficacy plays a role in
cheating. There is a predictable correlation between low self-efficacy and
cheating (2006, p. 18-20). Access & proficiency with educational tools and
services can greatly build self-efficacy and curb cheating.
“We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us
by what we have already done.” (Longfellow, 1849, p. 10)

12. PERSONAL CONFLICTS
COST OF FAILURE
According to The Institute For College Access and Success, 69% of graduates
from public & nonprofit colleges in 2013 had an average of $28,400 in
education related debt (Project on Student Debt, 2014). The risk of not
graduating & still carrying college debt is a terrifying prospect. Some programs
require an acceptable level of academic achievement to progress. High-
stakes environments are often conducive of cheating (Anderman & Murdock,
2006, p. 290).

13. PERSONAL CONFLICTS
PRESSURES WITHIN COLLEGE SUBCULTURES
According to Christakis & Christakis occurrences of cheating are higher in
college social networks as it can provide access to cheating materials with
little fear of judgement (2012). Peer pressure can be immense, especially
when you have left the familiar and the microcosm of college becomes your
new world. Perhaps this explains why cheating is on the rise even in institutions
like Harvard University. Anderman & Murdock confirm the effects of social
pressures on cheating (2006, p. 205).

14. CONCLUSION
Values, goals, information technologies and personal conflicts all impact
cheating. Although we publically condemn cheating it is becoming more
common than ever. An individual will be tested in academia. Unless prepared
and equipped for success a student may resolve to cheat. So lets look, listen,
communicate, share techniques not answers. A system that sets a status quo
where cheaters have set the standard is not one where honest people will
thrive.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you
feed him for a lifetime.” – Maimonides (Proverb)

15. CITATIONS
• Anderman, E. M., & Murdock, T. B. (Eds.). (2006). Psychology of academic cheating. Burlington, MA, USA:
Academic Press.
• Christakis, E., & Christakis, N. (2012). Harvard cheating scandal: is academic dishonesty on the rise?
Retrieved July 11, 2015, from http://ideas.time.com/2012/09/04/harvard-cheating-scandal-is-
academic-dishonesty-on-the-rise/
• Eccles, J. S., & Wigfield, A. (2002). Motivational beliefs, values, and goals. Annual Review of
Psychology, 53, 109.
• Longfellow, H. (1849). Kavanagh, a tale. Boston, Massachusetts: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields.
• Ohm, S. (2015, February 20). Experience vs. a degree: Which is more valuable? Retrieved July 19, 2015.
• Project on Student Debt. (2014). Retrieved July 19, 2015, from http://ticas.org/posd/map-state-data
• Taylor, P., Fry, R., & Oates, R. (2014). The rising cost of not going to college.Washington, DC: Pew Research
Center.
• (2010). Cheating in the 21st century [Television series episode]. In ABC World News Tonight.
David Muir. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/cheating-21st-century-12387767