Cases of incongruity: exploring the divide between adolescents’ beliefs and behavior related to academic dishonesty

Abstract

The past several decades of research has produced many important insights into prevalence and correlates of academic dishonesty. While these studies have offered important contributions to our understanding of such cheating, we are in need of research that allows us to hear what students have to say about it. This paper begins to fill the relative void of student voices by presenting results from individual interviews with a sample of adolescents who acknowledge cheating despite believing that is wrong to do so. Specifically, the present investigation uses a multi‐case research design to explore the phenomenon of belief–behaviour incongruity, as it relates to academic dishonesty, among a demographically and academically diverse group of high school students. Four distinct cases of BBI are presented, each representing a complex configuration of psychological, social, cultural and situational factors: unable, under‐interested, under pressure and unrepentant. Educational implications and suggestion for further research are discussed.

Keywords:

• moral judgement
• academic dishonesty
• adolescence

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the John Templeton Foundation for its encouragement and financial support. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation or the Center for Academic Integrity.