The Impact of Unethical Reasoning on Academic Dishonesty: Exploring the Moderating Effect of Social Desirability

Abstract

The relationship between unethical reasoning and academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, outside help, and electronic cheating) is stronger for students with low social desirability perceptions than for students with high social desirability perceptions. For those with high social desirability perceptions, the relationship between their unethical reasoning and their academically dishonest behavior is significantly impacted by their concern of how they are seen by others. For those with low social desirability perceptions, the relationship between their unethical reasoning and their academically dishonest behavior is significantly stronger as they are less impacted by how they are seen by others.