Students’ Practices with Examinations Cheating: Perspective of Students in Arsi University, Ethiopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/es.v6i12.1428Keywords:
Academic, cheating, examination, Ethiopia, higher education, studentsAbstract
The main objective of the study was to assess the perception of instructors and students on the nature, practices, types and causes of examination malpractice. The study was basically employs cross-sectional survey research design using quantitative approach. The subjects were 60 instructors and 300 students who were selected randomly from four colleges. As self-developed questionnaire, which adapted from previously used to investigate practices, and methods of cheating examinations were used. The data was analyzed using statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Results indicated that poor study habits, laziness, lack of self-confidence, the difficulty of the tests, lack of facilities, stiff competition and inadequate coverage of the course and the need of having extra points to raise their grades were as the cause of examination malpractice. Methods of cheating include bringing prepared answers to examination halls, writing on body parts and copying from someone else during a test are the top unethical behaviors. The respondents raised the following suggestions on how cheating may be curbed: strict supervision of examination, assisting learners to develop self confidence through delivering question based practical lesson, applying the rules and regulations strictly. Attention, therefore, needs to be given to strengthening and restoring a culture of integrity by heightening public awareness of the effects of fraud and corruption. The study recommended that there is need for thorough guidance and counselling and adequate preparation of students for examinations.
Downloads
References
Abiodun, G.; Gbadebo, O.; & Tola, O. (2011). “Forms of Academic Cheating During Examination among Students with Hearing Impairment in Nigeria: Implication for Counseling Practice”, European Journal of Social Sciences; Dec 2011, Vol. 26 Issue 2, p 276.
Adams, O. U. O., Esther, O. D. (2013). Stakeholders' Role in Curbing Examination Malpractice in Nigeria. International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences, 2(6), 342-348
Adelakum, A. A., & Lawal, D. A. (2008). Examination malpractice: A major challenge to public examinations in Nigeria.(The WAEC experience). Paper presented at 26th AEAA Annual conference, Accra, Ghana.
Adeyemi, T. O. (2010). Examination malpractices among secondary school students in Ondo State,Nigeria: Perceived causes and possible solutions. Journal of Education Administration and Policy Studies, 2 (3), pp. 48-55
Ahmadi, A. (2012). Cheating on Exams in the Iranian EFL context. Journal Academic Ethics, 10(8) 151– 170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-012-9156-5 Badia, M., Cladellas, M., & Clariana, R. (2013). Academic Cheating and Gender Differences in Barcelona (Spain). Summa Psicologica UST 2013,10(1), 65–72.
Anderman, E. & Murdock, T. (2007). “ The psychology of academic cheating”. In E. M. Anderman & T. B. Murdock (Eds.), Psychology of Academic Cheating (pp. 1–5). Burlington, MA: Elsevier.
Anderman. B. & Midgely, A. (2004). “Changes in self-reported academic cheating across the transition from middle school to high school”, Contemporary Educational Psychology, 29(4):499-517.
Anzene, S. (2014). Trends in examination malpractice in Nigerian educational system and its effects on the socio economic and political development of Nigeria. Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(3), 1-8.
Asante-Kyei, K., & Nduro, K. (2014). Inclining factors towards examination malpractice among students in Takoradi Polytechnic, Ghana. Journal of Education and Practice, 5(22), 1-9.
Asinya, O. E. (2012). Examination Malpractice in Nigerian Schools: An Obstacle to Progress in Socialization in School Environment: Causes, Effects and Remedy. Journal of Resourcefulness and Distinction, 1 (1), 139-145
Ajayi, I. (2009). Examination Cheats. Newswatch Magazine July 1st, pp.7-16.
Awanbor, D. (2004). Examination Malpractice and the Degenerative Effects on Quality of Education Examination/Assessment and Certification.
Badejo, A. O., & Gandonu, M. B. (2010). Predisposing factors towards examination malpractice among students in Lagos Universities: Implications for counselling. Edo Journal of Counselling, 3(2), 197-209.
Badia, M., Cladellas, M., & Clariana, R. (2013). Academic Cheating and Gender Differences in Barcelona (Spain).Summa Psicologica UST 2013,10(1), 65–72.
Berhan, A., & Desalegn, A. A. (2014). Cheating on Examinations and Its Predictors among Undergraduate Students. Paper presented at Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Science, Hawassa, Ethiopia. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-14-89.
Blachnio, A., & Weremko, M. (2011). Academic cheating is contagious: The influence of the presence of others on honesty. A Study Report. International Journal of Applied Psychology,1, 14-19.
https://doi.org/10.5923/j.ijap.20110101.02
Bruno, U., & Obidigbo, G. (2012). The counseling implications of examination malpractices among university undergraduates. Research Journal of Organizational Psychology and Educational Studies, 1(2), 199 – 202.
Chaminuka, L., & Ndudzo, D. (2014). Students and staff perceptions on examination malpractice and fraud in higher education in Zimbabwe. Asian Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(2), 78-90.
Danielsen, R.; Simon, A. & Pavlick, R. (2006). “The culture of cheating: From the classroom to the exam room”. Journal of Physician Assistant Education, 17(1), 23-29.
Emaikwu, S. O. (2012). The Influence of Examination Malpractice on the Measurement of Students' Ability in Nigerian Universities. Journal of Research in Education and Society, 3 (1), 12-21
Fasasi, Y. A. (2006). Quality assurance: A practical solution to examination malpractices in Nigerian secondary schools. International Journal of Africa and African American Studies, 5(2), 202-212.
Hamani, J.; Chalghaf, N.; Maaloul, H. & Azaiez, F. (2013). “The Exam Cheating among Tunisian Students of the Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax”, IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 15, Issue 6, PP 90-95 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN:2279-0845.
Hughes, T.; Butler, N.; Kritsonis, W. and Herrington, D. (2007). “Cheating in examinations in two Polish higher education”, The Lamar University Journal of Student Research. Spring 2007.
Isangedighi, A. J. (2007). Child psychology. Calabar, Nigeria: Eti-Nwa Associates.
Jekayinta, O. (2006). Why examinations are loosing meaning in Nigeria, Jos University Review, PP 45-48
Jones, D. (2011). Academic dishonesty: Are more students cheating? Business Communications Quarterly, 74(2), 141-150. https://doi.org/10.1177/1080569911404059
Kagete, P. (2008). “ Examination malpractices In Kenya”. Master of education Thesis in measurements and evaluation, in the faculty of education; university of Nairobi.
Kiogotho, R. (2009). Examination cheating globally, The Daily Nation PP. 15
Maheka, G. (2015). Nature and causes of examination malpractices in selected secondary schools in Kitwe District, Zambia. Lusaka, Zambia: The University of Zambia.
Njeru, I. (2008). Causes, frequencies and trend of student cheating in school Examinations, Unpublished Research Project, Kenyatta University.
Nnam, M. U., & Inah, A. F. (2015). Empirical investigation into the causes, forms and consequences of Examination malpractice in Nigerian Institutions of Higher Learning. International Journal of Novel Research in Humanity & Social Sciences 2(1), 52-62.
Nyamwange, C.; Ondima, P. and Onderi, P. (2013) “Factors Influencing Examination Cheating Among Secondary School Students: A Case of Masaba South District of Kisii County, Kenya”, Elixir Psychology, 56 , 13519-13524.
Okoh, E. E. (2014). Perceptional Evaluation of the causes and effects of examination malpractice among college of education students in Delta State. African Journal of Education and Technology, 4 (1), 127-135.
Omemu, F. (2015). Causes of examination malpractice in Nigeria schools. British Journal of Education, 3(7), 34-41.
Onuka, A. O. U., & Durowoju, E. O. (2013). Stakeholders’ role in curbing examination malpractice in Nigeria. International Journal of Economy, Management and Social Sciences, 2(6), 342-348.
Onyechere, I. (2006). Examination ethics handbooks: An examination ethics projects. Lagos, Nigeria: Protomac Books Ltd.
Petters, J. S., & Okon, O. (2014). Students’ perception of causes and effects of examination malpractice in the Nigerian educational system: The way forward for quality education. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 114, 125 – 129.
Ruto, D.; Kipkoech, L.; Rambaei, K. (2011).” Student factors influencing Cheating in undergraduate Examinations in universities In Kenya”, Problems of management in the 21st century, Volume 2.
Saraj, A. (2006). Examinations in Pakistan. Lahore, Pakistan: Lahore Press.
Sarita, R. D. (2015). Academic cheating among students: Pressure of Parents and Teachers. International Journal of Applied Research, 1(10), 793–797.
Shahid, M. S. (2007). Education in Pakistan. 6PthP ed. Islamabad, Pakistan: Allama Iqbal Open University.
Starovoytova, D.; Namango, S. and Katana, H. (2016a).” Theories and Models Relevant to Cheating-Behavior”,Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, ISSN (Paper) 2224-5766 ISSN (Online) 2225-0484(Online), Vol.6, No.17.
Starovoytova, D and Namango, S. (2016). “Faculty Perceptions on Cheating in Exams in Undergraduate Engineering”, Journal of Education and Practice, ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper), ISSN 2222-288X (Online),Vol.7, No.30.
Teixeira, A. and Rocha, M. (2010). “Cheating by economics and business undergraduate students: an exploratory international assessment”, Higher Education, 59(6), p. 663-701.
Wilayat, M. (2009). Causes of Examination Malpractice/Unfair means: Educational Awareness and Research, I.E.R, University of Peshawar.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2020 International Journal For Research In Educational Studies (ISSN: 2208-2115)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
In consideration of the journal, Green Publication taking action in reviewing and editing our manuscript, the authors undersigned hereby transfer, assign, or otherwise convey all copyright ownership to the Editorial Office of the Green Publication in the event that such work is published in the journal. Such conveyance covers any product that may derive from the published journal, whether print or electronic. Green Publication shall have the right to register copyright to the Article in its name as claimant, whether separately
or as part of the journal issue or other medium in which the Article is included.
By signing this Agreement, the author(s), and in the case of a Work Made For Hire, the employer, jointly and severally represent and warrant that the Article is original with the author(s) and does not infringe any copyright or violate any other right of any third parties, and that the Article has not been published elsewhere, and is not being considered for publication elsewhere in any form, except as provided herein. Each author’s signature should appear below. The signing author(s) (and, in
