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Kansas State University

 

K-State Honor & Integrity System
Kansas State University
215 Fairchild Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-2595
Fax: 785-532-5944
honor@k-state.edu

Undergraduate Teaching Faculty
Definition of Academic Dishonesty-Words and Scenarios

 

The following data comes from the 2002 Marcoux dissertation survey
conducted with 368 undergraduate KSU teaching faculty.

When KSU survey faculty were asked, "What comes to mind when you hear the term 'academic dishonesty?" the following terms were most universally used:

Cheating.....Plagiarism.....Copying

However, when survey faculty members were questioned about whether the following scenarios were seen as "cheating," discrepancies occurred.

 

Scenario #1 Talking in public about a test already taken

  • 11.3% say YES, 85.3% say NO

     

Scenario #2 Using a book review for two different classes

  • 45.5% say YES, 40.7% say NO

     

Scenario #3 Using old tests such as those kept in Greek houses

  • 19.5% say YES, 75.8% say NO

     

Scenario #4 Reusing lab reports in two separate semesters

  • 17.6% say YES, 74.5% say NO

The point IS, if faculty members are not on the same page and in total agreement in their definition of what is "cheating," how can we expect students to know?


RECOMMENDATION

Faculty - Verbalize and write down (syllabi and guidelines) your expectations about assignments, projects, examinations, and quizzes.

Students - If your instructor has not verbalized or written down his or her expectations, ASK. Do NOT assume if one instructor okays action on an assignment or assessment (test), ALL instructors will give permission. This is especially true of collaboration on assignments.