Students' Academic Cheating in Chinese Universities: Prevalence, Influencing Factors, and Proposed Action

J Acad Ethics (2013) 11:169184

DOI 10.1007/s10805-013-9186-7

Published online: 6 April 2013# Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Abstract Quantitative research about academic cheating among Chinese college students is minimal. This paper discusses a large survey conducted in Chinese colleges and universities which examined the prevalence of different kinds of student cheating and explored factors that influence cheating behavior. A structural equation model was used to analyze the data. Results indicate that organizational deterrence and individual performance have a negative impact on cheating while individual perceived pressure, peers cheating, and extracurricular activities have a positive impact. Recommendations are proposed to reduce the level of academic cheating in China. Many of these are universal in nature and applicable outside of China as well.

Keywords Academic cheating . China . Organization deterrence . Individual performance . Individual pressure . Peers cheating . Extracurricular activities

Introduction

Student academic integrity is a key to the continued growth of higher education. However, due to both subjective and objective reasons, academic dishonesty appears to be prevalent on college campuses around the globe e.g., students copying others assignment, plagiarism on papers, and using unpermitted crib notes, or cheat notes, during a test. An investigation by China Youth revealed that 83 % of Chinese college students admitted to academic

This paper is supported by Project 09YJA630123 from Ministry of Education of the Peoples Republic of China and Project D20091701 from Hubei Provincial Department of Education, China.

Y. Ma

Management College, Wuhan Textile University, 1 FangZhi Road, Wuhan 430073 Hubei Province, China e-mail: [email protected]

D. L. McCabe (*)

Management & Global Business, Rutgers Business School, 1 Washington Park, Newark, NJ 07102, USA e-mail: [email protected]

R. Liu

Accounting College, Wuhan Textile University, 1 FangZhi Road, Wuhan 430073 Hubei Province, China

Students Academic Cheating in Chinese Universities: Prevalence, Influencing Factors, and Proposed Action

Yuchao Ma & Donald L. McCabe & Ruizhi Liu

170 Y. Ma et al.

cheating. A study conducted by the Center for Academic Integrity in the U.S. (McCabe 2005) revealed that 70 % of college students admitted to academic cheating, and that cheating is not confined to those students who are struggling academically, but includes even high achieving students (Koch 2000). Perhaps more importantly, recent surveys suggest student attitudes toward cheating have changed...