Prevalence and Predictors of Academic Dishonesty among Undergraduate Students in Public Universities in Ghana

Abstract

This study, which was a cross-sectional survey, was designed to determine the prevalence and predictors of academic dishonesty among undergraduate students in public universities in Ghana. A sample of 1,200 undergraduate students and 144 lecturers were drawn from three public universities in Ghana using simple random, multistage, purposive and convenience sampling techniques. The study used prevalence and predictors of Academic Dishonesty Instrument for Students (PPADIS) and prevalence and predictors of Academic Dishonesty Instrument for Lecturers (PPADL) to collect data from students and lecturers respectively. The results of the study indicated that the students reported a prevalence rate of 48% among themselves with the most prevalent academic dishonest behaviour reported by students being "‘seeing another student copying in a quiz/examination but failing to report them to authorities”. Lecturers reported a prevalence rate of 90% and they noticed “copying another student” as the most prevailing academic dishonest behaviour. The proposed academic dishonesty predictive model was tested using structural equation model (SEM). Results showed that attitude, goal, subjective norms, cost and self-efficacy accounted for a significant variance in academic dishonest behaviour among students using intention as mediator. Similarly, moral obligation was significant moderator of the relationship between intention and academic dishonesty. It is therefore, concluded that the model offers a useful conceptual framework about the effects of attitude, goal. cost, self-efficacy and subjective norms as predictors of academic dishonesty among undergraduate students. It is recommended that university authorities should institute and enforce examination codes of conduct to make academic dishonest behaviours unattractive to students.