INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES IN STUDENT CHEATING

The incidence and causes of cheating were investigated using a questio nnaire, consisting of 21 cheating behaviors, which was distributed to students at an English university. Respondents were asked to indicate, confidentially, which of the behaviors they had engaged in. Reported cheating was widespread and some types of cheating (e.g., on coursewor k) were more common than others. Reported cheating was more common in men than women; more common with less able students than more able one s; more common in younger students than mature ones; and more common i n science and technology students than those in other disciplines. It is suggested that students' motivation, in particular whether they are studying to learn rather than simply to obtain good grades, is a majo r factor in explaining these differences. The results also indicate th at cheating consists of a number of different types of behavior rather than being a unitary concept.