Blog

Why Do Students Cheat (And What Can We Do About It)?

Posted by Joseph D. Lento | Mar 15, 2021 | 0 Comments

The University of Houston's online publication, The Cougar, recently ran an article linking remote learning to an alarming new trend.

Cases of academic misconduct have more than doubled over the course of the pandemic. Legions of students nationwide now depend on internet-based course instruction. They are also experiencing heightened pressure to succeed even amid the hardships of today's unique learning environment.

Today's college students need, more than ever, to have excellent self-motivation and time management skills. They also need to have a particularly strong will when it comes to the ease and attractiveness of academic dishonesty.

The Theories Underlying Academic Misconduct

“Cheating often occurs when students are overconfident in their abilities and underestimate the time needed to prepare for an exam.”

This quote and theory come from a book recently written out of Assumption College in Massachusetts. The book, entitled Cheating Lessons, delves into the theories behind cheating.

Firstly: Why do students cheat? In Cheating Lessons, we learn that there are four basic conditions that might promote cheating behaviors. These include:

  1. Conditions that contribute to an emphasis on performance, rather than (necessarily) comprehension;
  2. Heightened stakes depending on a student's performance;
  3. External motivation fueling those heightened stakes; and
  4. Somewhat paradoxically, an overall low expectation of individual, sustained student success.

The response to these conditions? Students and teachers need to return to the idea that the learning process is often more important than the outcome. By teaching students that the outside world values test-driven credentials over authentic understanding, our society has helped students believe that a preferable end (such as a perfect score) might justify the means (e.g., academic dishonesty).

Of course, the conditions that Cheating Lessons links to academic misconduct might sound familiar.

Now, in a time where students are learning mainly on their own, with (in many cases) only test scores to speak to their progress, it's become easy to cheat. To many struggling students without options for support, it may even feel necessary—or like the lesser of several bad alternatives.

The pandemic, resultant remote learning, and other conditions that today's students did not choose shouldn't cost a generation their chance at a solid, successful future. Now, more than ever, students who face cheating charges need to have a way to clear their name and fight for their reputation.

Trust an Experienced Student Defense Attorney to Help You Protect Your Education

If you believe that an allegation of academic misconduct might be in your future, you need to realize that you're in a precarious situation. While Cheating Lessons may propose that there is a lot we can learn from academic dishonesty, your future employers, universities, and scholarship boards likely will not appreciate any misconduct on your record.

It's important to work now to protect your reputation and clear your name of all allegations. Joseph D. Lento can guide you through your school's complex disciplinary process and assist you in working towards the best possible outcome.

Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 to learn more about how we can help you.

About the Author

Joseph D. Lento

"I pride myself on having heart and driving hard to get results!" Attorney Joseph D. Lento passionately fights for the futures of his clients nationwide. Attorney Lento and his team represent students and others in disciplinary cases and various other proceedings at colleges and universities across the United States. Attorney Lento has helped countless students, professors, and others in academia at more than a thousand colleges and universities across the United States, and when necessary, he and his team have sought justice on behalf of clients in courts across the nation. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. In various capacities, the Lento Law FIrm Team can help you or your student address any school-related issue or concern anywhere in the United States.

Comments

There are no comments for this post. Be the first and Add your Comment below.

Leave a Comment

Comments have been disabled.

Contact Us Today!

If you, or your student, are facing any kind of disciplinary action, or other negative academic sanction, and are having feelings of uncertainty and anxiety for what the future may hold, contact the Lento Law Firm today, and let us help secure your academic career.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

Menu