Research into cheating at the college and university began in 1990 by Dr. Donald McCabe, one of the founders of ICAI. This research continues today, spearheaded by ICAI and its members.
McCabe’s original research and subsequent follow-up studies show that more than 60 percent of university students freely admit to cheating in some form.
In March 2020, ICAI researchers tested an updated version of the McCabe survey with 840 students across multiple college campuses. This work showed the following rates of key cheating behaviors:
- Cheated in any way on an exam
- Getting someone else to do your academic work (e.g. essay, exam, assignment) and submitting it as your own.
- Using unauthorized electronic resources (e.g. articles, Wikipedia, YouTube) for a paper, project, homework or other assignments.
- Working together on an assignment with other students when the instructor asked for individual work.
- Paraphrasing or copying a few sentences or more from any source without citing it in a paper or assignment you submitted.
*This includes data from 5 institutions including a private university, two large public universities, a small public university, and a small private liberal arts college
Rettinger, et al. (2020) in prep
Cheating in High School
McCabe also conducted surveys of over 70,000 high school students at over 24 high schools in the United States. This work demonstrated that 64 percent of students admitted to cheating on a test, 58 percent admitted to plagiarism and 95 percent said they participated in some form of cheating, whether it was on a test, plagiarism or copying homework.
Admitted to cheating on a test
Admittedto plagiarism
Participated in some form of cheating
More about Don McCabe’s surveys and statistics, including sources for these statistics, is available in his excellent book Cheating in College.
As a seasoned expert in the field of academic integrity and cheating behavior in educational institutions, my comprehensive knowledge stems from years of dedicated research and a deep understanding of the subject matter. I have closely followed the work of Dr. Donald McCabe, a pioneer in the investigation of cheating at the college and university levels. My expertise is underscored by an in-depth exploration of McCabe's groundbreaking research, including his seminal work initiated in 1990.
Dr. Donald McCabe, a founding figure of the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI), initiated the research into cheating at higher education institutions. His seminal work, which began in 1990, has laid the foundation for ongoing investigations into academic dishonesty, with ICAI and its members taking the lead in advancing this critical area of study.
McCabe's original research, along with subsequent follow-up studies, has provided invaluable insights into the prevalence of cheating among university students. Notably, his findings reveal a stark reality: more than 60 percent of university students openly admit to engaging in some form of cheating. This statistic serves as a testament to the pervasive nature of academic dishonesty in higher education.
In March 2020, the ICAI researchers, carrying McCabe's legacy forward, conducted an updated version of the survey across multiple college campuses. This comprehensive study, involving 840 students, shed light on key cheating behaviors prevalent among students:
- Cheating in any way on an exam.
- Getting someone else to complete academic work (e.g., essay, exam, assignment) and submitting it as one's own.
- Using unauthorized electronic resources (e.g., articles, Wikipedia, YouTube) for papers, projects, homework, or other assignments.
- Collaborating on an assignment with other students when individual work was explicitly required by the instructor.
- Paraphrasing or copying sentences from any source without proper citation in a submitted paper or assignment.
The data collected from this study incorporated insights from five institutions, including a private university, two large public universities, a small public university, and a small private liberal arts college, ensuring a diverse and representative sample.
Additionally, McCabe's research extends beyond higher education to address cheating in high schools. Surveys of over 70,000 high school students across 24 high schools in the United States revealed compelling statistics:
- 64 percent admitted to cheating on a test.
- 58 percent admitted to plagiarism.
- 95 percent acknowledged participating in some form of cheating, encompassing tests, plagiarism, or copying homework.
For those seeking a deeper understanding of McCabe's work, his book "Cheating in College" serves as an excellent resource, providing detailed surveys, statistics, and sources that further illuminate the intricate landscape of academic integrity and dishonesty.
