Cheating in Academic Institutions by Donald McCabe - Article Example

The article attempts to address the problem of academic dishonesty in academic institutions by highlighting the main forms of cheating, causes and proposing possible solutions. In addition, the article figures out the main reasons why students engage in cheating. The article successfully conveys its purpose in the introductory paragraph and offers the reader a clear outline of what is discussed. This is a fact-based article in which the authors rely on studies and researches conducted on this subject.

It is based on a review of researches on academic dishonesty. The article examines the role played by contextual and individual factors in cheating. For the contextual factors, the authors critically examine the role of honor codes in enhancing this problem. The individual factors, the authors discuss the role of gender, poor self-image, and neutralization techniques. The authors also explore how students, faculty, academics, and administrators can help address the problem. The ideas presented in the article would help discourage students against academic dishonesty and provide penalties for the offenders.

This will result in a level playing field in the learning institutions. Unfortunately, this is likely to cause some students to leave school or develop a negative attitude towards education due to the strict rules. In addition, this will make the dishonest students more creative and will come up with new methods of cheating. The article addresses a problem that is common in many learning institutions worldwide. The authors have successfully examined this problem from the students’ and faculty perspectives, thereby addressing the issue from the most important viewpoints.

The solutions proposed are significant can be applied to any institution, regardless of the size and location. However, since the article was written in 2001, the issue of new technologies in academic dishonesty, especially the internet, is not covered. Quotesa) “One of the most encouraging aspects of the research we have conducted on academic dishonesty is the many students and faculty who are genuinely concerned about the issue and who are willing to devote time and effort to addressing it on their campuses.

” (McCabe, Treviño & Butterfield, p. 220)b) “It is not the mere existence of an honor code that is important in deterring college cheating…. a truly effective code must be well implemented and strongly embedded in the student culture” (McCabe, Treviño & Butterfield, p. 224)c) “The primary implication of this work is that cheating can be most effectively addressed at the institutional level.” (McCabe, Treviño & Butterfield, p. 228)