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.
