The functionalism Theory of Cheating amongst Students - Research Paper Example

? The functionalism Theory of Cheating amongst Introduction According to functionalism theory, the society is believed to associate as one unified clan who acknowledges togetherness as a factor for the prosperity of each one of the society. The sense of togetherness in becomes more pronounced as the major factor necessary for any existing social group. Therefore, cheating by students in an examination which, is regarded as academic dishonesty has ever remained the most irrational conducts at all social levels of in institutions. Even though cheating is recognized as one of the worst vice by the academic practitioners, some of the students have consistently practiced this habit as a potential to success. However, in all the countries across the globe, as the demand for labor continues to increase, it has been noted with great concern that very few members of the society have actually been able to meet these demands. This is where the concept of functionalism is attributed by students’ tendencies to cheat in class, in exams or any other integrated test (Foss & Lathrop 2000). Literature review Several scholarly researches have indicated that, most of the students must have cheated at some given point in their school life, and the general menace has been found to affect the unified state of the society. Some researches especially those conducted annually give clear evidence how cheating amongst students has been consistent from one institution to the other with Harvard business school being not exceptional. It may not only be in class that cheating is evidenced but for some reasons, this wrong norm has extended even in writing of the resumes while the students are applying for jobs which, are considered sustainable, as a result leading to discharge of incompetent workers which in turn affects the unity and trust by the society. (Davis et al, 2011). With a keen interest, it has been noted that cheating is never a new phenomenon in life because it has been there since the beginning of academic institutions. The major difference from old forms of cheating is that, at the current state, students cheating are much more digitalized through modern information system like tablets Pads and electronic books which, are easily integrated with the aid of internet (Davis et al, 2011). The main reason as to why cheating is rampant amongst students is because they would want to earn high marks in class so as to the win trust of the society. However, much is attributed by the fact that most students are faced with a lot of pressure especially from their guardians, sponsors, teachers or any other person who pays an active role to the facilitation of their education. For some reasons, students who may not have been performing well in class may develop curiosity of oblique future or criticism and disparity from where they come from. With respect this; they envisage the feeling to embrace all the possible methods of ensuring the right maximum grades are achieved so as to gain the same status quo as their fellow colleagues. From the above reasons, students are much tempted to seek all possible means of passing the exams to ensure attainable level as their counterparts (Grossman, 2003). Besides, inadequate knowledge about the exam also attributes to some level of cheating. To some extent, students who do not have enough ideas about what has been set in a paper would feel incompetent when it comes to tackle the test. The sense of societal functionalism diminishes when a student feels ill prepare to sit for a paper while quite a good number would simply develop a notion that exams like any other test are just difficult, and cheating would otherwise be the best alternative choice (McCabe, D et al, 2012). In some areas, despite that fact that students do get adequate time for class attendance or for reviewing all the articles necessary for studies, they may end up finding themselves in between some important chores of the family such as taking care of the patient and this may make them highly susceptible to cheating due to fear of failing in an exams. In real sense, this is a general concern of the society. However, according to the theory of functionalism it is advisable for students expecting to sit for an exam must consider proper time management as this would ensure that everything is handled within the right time frame (McCabe, D et al, 2012). To a broader extent, cheating has ever remained a withstanding menace in most of the institutions as a result of irrational, indispensible-character and lack of self respect from the person sitting for a particular exam. A student who does have enough respect for himself is accustomed to cheat even on the simplest paper that can be tackled with minimal possible strategy. This is an irrational act of functionalism McCabe, D et al, (2012). This is very different when it comes to students who are associated with good morals who sees any little bit of cheating as an irrational act and believes that self knowledge is the best determinant of one’s knowledge and a good proof of what a person has learnt evidenced in an examination result. Even though may be considered as deceitful, cheating may have its own advantages. For instance, some students are societal academic disadvantaged in way that even if they are given all the necessary resources and materials, they would still not have the relevant potential of doing well in an exam. Moreover, due to variance in financials, quite a number of students have been noted to be participating in doing assignments or actively taking part in working on their colleagues’ research papers at a fee or any financial gain of a specified value. However, according to the academic protocols, any form of cheating which, relates to an exam if can be proven is considered as a serious vice and can lead to serious consequences such as expulsion of the student involved from an institution of learning (Davis et al,2011). Some of the students have categorically gotten influenced with the trend of cheating with a perception that it can make a person to be more pronounced in institutions and from regions of their origins. Consider a student who has cheated in his final exams ending up securing a managerial position leaving his fellow classmate who has strived with his own knowledge to get average points toiling hard in less meaningful position. With respect to such scenario, cheating has always been there to for wrong reasons. Cheating has included all the dramatic odds of pursuing successes in class. It ranges from simple glancing on somebody’s work with an irrational intention or having a homework done for other immoral gains (Davis et al, 2011). Conclusion It has been noted with great concern that students may cheat in their exams due to several reasons ranging from disrespect of one’s integrity or the desire of showing to the sponsors that at least some meaningful result has been achieved through going through some level of education. Despite the fact that some level of cheating are done for meaningful gains such as to sort some financial constrains, any form of cheating is considered an acceptable, irrational and should never be tolerated before it develops into as habit. References: Foss, K & Lathrop, A. (2000). Student cheating and plagiarism in the Internet era: a wake-up call. Englewood, Colo: Libraries Unlimited. Grossman, H. (2003). Classroom behavior management for diverse and inclusive schools. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. McCabe, D et al. (2012).Cheating in college: why students do it and what educators can do about it. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Davis, S et al. (2011).Cheating in School: What we know and what we can do. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Read More