Linking cheating in school and corruption

Introduction

Previous research suggests a link between academic cheating and corruption. However, no prior empirical studies examined this link with cross-cultural data.

Objective

The present study aims to fill this gap and it examines their link by considering cultural values such as in-group collectivism and economic background in terms of GDP per capita.

Method

Self-reported data were collected regarding collaborative academic cheating. The database of Transparency International was used for assessing the level of perceived corruption, and the in-group collectivism data was derived from the GLOBE study. Structural equation modeling was used in order to identify their relationship pattern.

Results

In the present study, using data from 40 countries, a strong relationship between self-reported academic cheating on exams and the country level of the corruption perception index was found. The present results also support evidence of a strong relationship between collaborative academic cheating and in-group collectivism in a sample comprising 30 countries. This link remains significant if GDP per capita, as an indicator of economic development, is controlled. However, path analysis showed that if both GDP per capita and in-group collectivism are considered, the link between corruption and cheating disappeared.

Conclusion

These results suggest that GDP per capita as an economy-related background variable and in-group collectivism as a societal value have independent effect on collaborative cheating and perceived corruption and these broader background variables can diminish the strong link between collaborative cheating and perceived corruption.