Abstract This paper contends that cheating is a significant problem among college students and that a majority of students either cheat or implicitly condones cheating. The paper presents the results of a survey performed on 161 students, inquiring about their opinions and experience regarding cheating and the likelihood that they would report a cheater. This study concluded that, while a majority of students believe that cheating is never justified, that same majority has participated in cheating ,either actively or passively, and would not be very likely to report cheating.
From the Paper "Cheating is a significant issue in schools today. According to a study performed by California State University, ?Most students (78%) reported cheating of at least one type.? (Butler et al.) Past studies have apparently been somewhat conflicted regarding the causes and incident of cheating. Missouri Western State College student Andrea Rittman found that only 16.7% of students reported cheating in college, though far more reported cheating in high school. However, her study was skewed because she only included cheating on tests, while prior studies had included other tasks such as paper-writing and projects. Considering the ease of ordering custom papers online at any number of web sites, one would be surprised if cheating on tests were the primary form of cheating in an academic setting. The California State University results included "Thirteen cheating behaviors" (Butler et al.) which no doubt accounts for its higher positive results."
Abstract This paper examines some of the ecological dynamics and game theory behind mutualisms and cheaters focusing on plant-pollinator relationships.
Table of Contents
Reciprocal Exploitation
Defensive Strategies: fruit abortion and selective maturation
Offensive Strategies: cheating insects
To cheat or not to cheat?
Evolutionary Consequences of Cheating
References
From the Paper "Although mutualisms have often been heralded as mutually beneficial relationships that exist for the good of all those involved, they are often not as good-natured as people would think (Soberon & Martinez del Rio 1985). Perhaps Darwin knew best when he claimed that "Natural selection cannot possibly produce any modification in any one species exclusively for the good of another species; though throughout nature one species incessantly takes advantage of, and profits by, the structures of another" (1859). Upon close inspection of the many mutualisms that pervade the global ecology, it becomes clear that there is a strong incentive for exploitation, either by one of the partners in the mutualism or by a third party species. Because of the conflict of interest that often exists between members of a mutualism, certain tendencies to "cheat" have evolved. By escaping the costs that go hand in hand with mutualisms, these cheaters are able to reap the benefits of the mutualistic relationship without having to provide any services or resources in return. Far from one partner acting altruistically toward the other, members in mutualisms are actually pursuing their own agendas, often carrying out self-beneficial actions as far as the other partner will allow. "
Abstract The paper explores the technologies and strategies that cheaters use. The paper relates that a large percentage of students don't have any social or moral qualms with using technology to cheat. The paper then suggests how to minimize or eradicate the opportunities for students to cheat.
Outline:
Introduction
Technology in Today's Classroom
Ethos of Cheating Amongst Students
Preventative Measures Against Using Technology to Cheat Conclusion
From the Paper "Since the dawn of academia there has always been an opportunity to cheat. Cheating has come a long way over the years from writing on your arms and hiding miniature scrolls of paper inside of ink pens to using I-pods, cell phones and Bluetooth capable devices to listen to answers. Cheating hasn't changed but the opportunities to do so have. With the increased acceptability of using technology inside our classrooms the chances of using technology to cheat has become more covert."
Abstract The paper examines what methods students use to cheat, what types of students are cheating and how universities are dealing with the problem. The paper discusses how student cheating is fast becoming a serious problem and contends that strict enforcement should be at the top of any school's agenda.
From the Paper "The first topic of discussion is how students cheat. For one thing, many students in American and Canadian schools plagiarize from online or text sources - such a practice is obviously common enough. More than that, a paper released by the University of Wollongong in Australia reports that students will also employ methods like using electronic devices to "source" information during an exam, using false identification so that another party can write an exam in their place, and/or working with a "colleague" whereby one party allows the other party to scan his or her paper for proper responses to difficult questions (4). Returning momentarily to the troubling issue of plagiarism, there is some evidence that a pervasive sub-culture of "cut-and-paste" cheats are emerging who simply view the internet as an easy means of accessing information they would presumably have difficulty finding elsewhere (Nilsson, Eklof & Ottosson, n.d.)."
Abstract This paper discusses the situational ethics of cheating. It specificlly presents a case study of children cheating at play on the playground during recess while being observed by the writer. The paper presents the writer's observations and discusses the literature with regards to the effect of race, gender and age on cheating.
From the Paper "In my observations, I watched children between the ages of seven to twelve at a middle school during recess. Most were Caucasian and middle-class, thus I was not able to observe racial or socio-economic differences, only gender differences. Some of my observations confirmed what I had read. Children who were angry, aggressive, and did not have a group of friends to talk to on the playground were more likely to cut in line to play on popular equipment. However, the gender difference was much more pronounced than the literature might reveal. Rejected girls seemed more likely to withdraw from games, than attempt to become involved and to cheat to show mastery through cheating."
Abstract This paper examines the 'cheating' scandal at the University of Toronto Law School in the spring of 2001. In fact, the students did not cheat they lied about their marks on December exams during interviews for summer jobs. That being the case this incident raises questions about Law School's links to law firms, the purpose of a legal education and the ethics of both lawyers (and law students) and Law Schools.
Abstract This paper takes a closer look at steroid use in professional baseball and at the Olympics. The paper shows specific examples of recent cheating among athletes worldwide. The paper also provides explanations of drug-screening procedures used today and ways that athletes are successfully able to cheat the screenings, as well as their competitors and the fans.
From the Paper "Cheating is everywhere. It has become a widespread epidemic in the sense that it has almost completely incorporated itself into the American society of today. Not gradually; the change has been dramatic and has covered all angles and perspectives. Anything and everything that has a corner with the possibility of being cut will ultimately be cut. Moreover, based on this extremely wide variety, it would take days to cover each individual type of cheating. Therefore, choosing one single and important aspect, in this case, athletes who cheat drug screenings, allows the reader to obtain a much more specific and individualized sense of the much broader dilemma that is occurring everywhere all over the world. Athletes have found ways to cheat drastically in both the minor and major leagues of baseball as well as in the Olympics."
Abstract This paper provides a review of the relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature to identify current faculty and student perceptions of cheating behavior and any differences and similarities in how the behaviors are defined. The paper analyzes how perceptions of cheating have been affected by students' technology experience as well as the increased pressure to succeed academically.
Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Conclusion
From the Paper "Today, Americans use the word "cheat" to describe a wide range of activities that all involve depriving another of some right or property through deceptive means. The severity of these behaviors ranges from the fairly benign to the most severe. For example, when people cheat their neighbors by buying inexpensively priced items at a garage sale they know to be valuable, they may end of celebrating their savvy purchase on "Antiques Road Show." When they cheat on their income taxes or their spouses, though, the outcomes can be expected to be negative and may even involve criminal prosecution. While definitions of cheating vary, it would seem reasonable to posit that most people possess a "little voice" that tells them when they are cheating. Because people are just people and subject to all of the frailties of the human condition, though, this "little voice" can be easily overcome through any number of rationalizations that justify such behaviors."
Abstract This paper discusses Norine Dresser's book, "Multicultural Manners". It explores how the subject of cheating is subjected to a variety of cultural analyses, whose implications are found to be relevant to other contemporary cultural misunderstandings.
From the Paper "Norine Dresser's, "Multicultural Manners" is a kind of popularized anthropological factoid in the current shallow and breezy style of best-selling books. Long on variety and short on depth and personal authenticity Dresser's book purports to be a ..."
Abstract The paper considers the reasons why students cheat and then dispels the perception that the likelihood of cheating on online courses is higher than in regular courses. The paper discusses the value in universities and other institutes establishing their own integrity systems and also relates that feelings of teachers towards students have tended to lean towards the negative in regards to academic honesty. The paper posits that in order to combat academic dishonesty, it is important that cheating not be controlled and punished, but that ethics and integrity be taught and instilled into the minds of students.
Outline:
Introduction
The Motivation to Cheat The Integrity of Online Courses
Promoting Honesty and Integrity
Teachers on Student Academic Honesty
Conclusion
From the Paper "The issue of academic dishonesty is one which has wide-spread implications for both the student and their institute of education. The main issues at hand are those of legitimacy and equity. The students' grades must have been legitimately earned in order for the student to be able to track their progress and truly learn, as to perform academic dishonesty is to deny oneself the true value of whatever academic assignment may have been completed through anything less than an honest and personal effort. The issue of equity comes into play in that students are graded upon their work, with their grades being of direct relevance to other students. For a true comparison between students to be present all students must have performed in an honest fashion, as to have done so otherwise throws off the entire system in place in regards to grading and ranking students based upon their personal achievement."
Abstract The paper discusses the increasing number of plagiarisms, cheatings and misrepresentations done not only by students but by faculty members themselves. The paper notes how technological changes have only made plagiarism and cheating easier. The paper believes in the importance of teaching students and academic staff academic integrity and recommends adapting Donald McCabe and Gary Pavela's "Ten Principles of Academic Integrity."
From the Paper "The world we now live in is a fast paced, constantly changing and globalize world. We are inundated with fast food, fast lane, quick service, instant opportunity and sometime "making the quick buck." In the days of our forebears, life was simple: you grow up, go to school, get a job, find a partner, have a family, build a house and grow old gracefully. Then your kids go through the same rigors. Values and ethics then were crystal clear and there was an easy differentiation of black and white. Then was a time when a man's word was good enough and a handshake was an unbreakable bond built on honor, trust and integrity."
Abstract The multiplicity of scenarios on infidelity, through the study of three cultures, are presented in this paper. Also, the reliability of various surveys are examined, and the looming specter of AIDS, as part of the tragic results of marital cheating.
From the Paper "When it comes to reliable statistics on marital deceptions ? it's called cheating, infidelity, ?having an affair,? or "running around on your wife / husband" ? there are a number of statistical and theoretical approaches used in researching the issue. And there are also a variety of results ? some questionable, others believable ? to be found in the surveys, samplings and studies on the topic, a subject which is talked about and researched around the globe, notably in Africa, Latin America, and the United States, and for good reasons. Some men cheat on their wives and girlfriends. And some women cheat on their husbands and boyfriends. It is not a new phenomenon. It breaks hearts, destroys families in many cases, even kills ? while providing excitement and physical pleasure to the cheater ? but in other cases, infidelity is accepted and even expected."
Abstract This paper examines how academic dishonesty has existed as long as organized schooling, whether in the form of glancing at a neighboring student's examination, copying a classmate's homework, or plagiarizing source material in written assignments. It looks at how academic dishonesty has increased dramatically over the last several years due to the Internet and recent technological advances in communication technology, which have enabled students to devise clever new strategies to facilitate cheating during in-class examinations.
From the Paper "Instructors have recently begun addressing the problem by availing themselves of Internet services such as Turnitin.com, a subscription service that compares submitted portions of student papers to Internet material and alerts to any suspected instances of inappropriate similarity (Slobogin). Professor Donald M. McCabe of Duke University is an expert on academic dishonesty who founded the Center for Academic Integrity, a consortium of two hundred colleges and universities dedicated to preserving academic integrity. According to McCabe, one of the most important tools in the fight against academic dishonesty (and plagiarism in particular) is well-informed instructors who are equally adept with the relatively new Internet medium as their students."
Abstract This paper explores some current issues surrounding ethics in the classroom at all levels. It covers the idea that many of the academic concerns regarding the classroom are not black or white and have much room for interpretation. In particular, it looks at the issue of "collaboration" versus true "cheating."
From the Paper "Collaboration is an effort of more than one person on a given assignment or project. Educators have not sufficiently defined the difference between acceptable collaboration and dishonest collaboration. When does helping a fellow student grasp a concept with which they might be having trouble with become dishonestly assisting them in obtaining a better grade? At what point does the help an RA, tutor, or other source of assistance bring up questions of academic integrity? Guidelines must be set down. While it should be obvious that assisting one another on an exam or major paper is not ethically honest it does not follow that a student should not be able to work with a peer to grasp a hard concept or get through a difficult assignment."
A discussion of the practice of plagiarism, which has been practiced for centuries among a variety of different classes, cultures and races. For as long as plagiarism has been practiced, so has the attack against the piracy of words.
Abstract This paper examines plagiarism and the reasons behind it, citing several articles and journals as reference. Some scholars believe that it is due to a difference between the ethical practices of the older and younger generations, while others believe that it is due to inadequate education.
Article I. Cheating and the Old Perception of Plagiarism
Article II. The Enlightened Perception of Plagiarism
Article III.Proposition for Howard University's Perception on Plagiarism
Section 3.01 Rebuilding the Academic Advisors Department
Section 3.02 Redefining Culpability
From the Paper "The most common way to perceive plagiarism is as a modern day phenomena that has been practiced by the younger generation with increasing frequency and at an alarming rate. Journalistic reports of vast cheating by students in college settings have been published in all major newspapers."
