Observing and Deterring Social Cheating on College Exams

Authors

Richard J. Fendler, Georgia State UniversityFollow
Michael C. Yates, Georgia State UniversityFollow
Jonathan M. Godbey, Georgia State UniversityFollow

Abstract

This research introduces a unique multiple choice exam design to observe and measure the degree to which students copy answers from their peers. Using data collected from the exam, an empirical experiment is conducted to determine whether random seat assignment deters cheating relative to a control group of students allowed to choose their seats. Empirical results demonstrate a significant decline in measured cheating within the assigned seating sample. This study contributes to the literature by providing a measurement of actual cheating frequency among students, as opposed to relying on reported cheating in anonymous surveys, and by demonstrating that an easily implemented deterrent can significantly reduce instances of cheating.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Fendler, Richard J.; Yates, Michael C.; and Godbey, Jonathan M. (2018) "Observing and Deterring Social Cheating on College Exams," International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: Vol. 12: No. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.20429/ijsotl.2018.120104