Addressing Academic Dishonesty Among the Highest Achievers

Abstract

Although research shows that higher-achieving students report engaging in cheating behaviors less frequently than lower-achieving students, the cheating rates among this population are still startling. Certain aspects of the context of being a high-achieving student support academic dishonesty. We investigate integrity among the highest achievers using a motivational framework, first examining why these students feel the need to cheat. We discuss personal standards of performance, social comparison and competition, pressure to succeed, and these students’ ability to rationalize cheating behaviors. Finally, we suggest what can be done to combat cheating among high achieving students, including thinking about approaches to pedagogy and assessment, providing clarity and consequences for cheating, and considering the culture of high achievers.