Convenience Theory

SECTION 1: WHAT CONSTITUTES COLLEGE STUDENT CHEATING?

Cheating is non-plagiarism academic misconduct as defined in the publications of each higher education institution. Methods of cheating may include using hand signals, concealing notes, obtaining a copy of a test in advance, leaving information in restrooms, looking at someone else’s answers or letting someone else look at your answers, and destroying library materials to gain an academic advantage (Cite). In 1992, McCabe surveyed 6,096 students at 31 American colleges to determine the influence of situational ethics on cheating (Cite).

The cheating methods most popular with the students in the McCabe survey (listed in decreasing order of mention) were: failure to footnote sources in written work, collaboration on assignments when the instructor specifically asked for individual work, copying from other students on exams, fabrication of bibliographies, helping someone else cheat on a test, and using unfair methods to learn the contents of a test ahead of time. Plagiarism is a separate issue from cheating and is not discussed in this paper.

Problem statement

Cheating is a problem that is prevalent in today’s society. It seems as if everyone cheats in one way or another. Workers cheat on their income taxes. Physicians cheat on Medicaid claims. Accountants cheat on their clients. Cheating occurs in practically every profession.