Some Research Highlights

Five major research projects conducted by Donald L. McCabe of Rutgers University (founder and first president of CAI), have had disturbing, provocative, and challenging results, among them the following.

• On most campuses, over 75% of students admit to some cheating. In surveys conducted in 1990, 1992, and 1995 involving almost 7,000 students on 26 small-to-medium-sized campuses, almost 80% of undergraduate student respondents reported one or more incidents of cheating.
• Academic honor codes effectively reduce cheating. In surveys conducted in 1990 and 1995 of over 5,000 students on 14 small-to-medium-sized campuses which have strong academic honor codes, 57% of undergraduate student respondents reported one or more incidents of cheating. Giving students significant voice and responsibility in issues of academic integrity appears to significantly reduce cheating.
• Chronic cheating is also prevalent. On campuses without honor codes, one in five students (one in four on larger campuses) self-reported more than three incidents of explicit cheating on tests and examinations. On campuses with honor codes, only one in sixteen students reported such levels.
• Faculty are reluctant to report students for cheating. Less than half of 800 faculty surveyed on 16 campuses in 1992 have ever reported an incident of cheating in their classroom. Student survey data suggest that cheating is highest in those courses where it is well known that faculty ignore cheating or fail to report it to the authorities.
• Cheating is higher among fraternity and sorority members. 75% of Greeks surveyed in 1993 admit to one or more incidents of test/exam cheating versus 61% of Independents. 42% of Greeks versus 36% of Independents in 1993 reported they were likely to help a friend who asked for help on a test or examination.
• Longitudinal comparisons show significant increases in explicit test/examination cheating and unpermitted collaboration. The number of students self-reporting instances of unpermitted collaboration at nine medium-to-large state universities increased from 11% in 1963 to 49% in 1993. This trend seems to be continuing: between 1990 and 1995, instances of unpermitted collaboration at 31 small-to-medium schools increased from 30% to 38%.

Maintained by Daniel Garrison d-garrison@nwu.edu

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