Cheating on University Exams: Instructor Experiences and Suggestions

Abstract

    The purposes of this study were to understand university instructors’ experiences with students' examination cheating and to solicit their insights as to how such behavior could be reduced or prevented. This qualitative study utilized a semi-structured interview method to collect data from a purposive sample of 33 university instructors from a private university in central Thailand who volunteered to share their experiences and perspectives through the online application Zoom. Each interview lasted for 30-40 minutes; voice recorded data were then transcribed. The data was coded, and content analysis was employed to identify sub-concepts, which were grouped and categorized into emergent themes. The findings indicated that the most common techniques used by students to cheat were notes written on body parts or concealed papers. The penalties for such conduct generally ranged from a partial to total deduction of marks. The most frequently suggested ways to reduce or prevent cheating included strengthening students’ appreciation of the importance of ethical conduct through in-class or extracurricular activities, and strictly monitoring exam settings.