Who Cheats More?

Gender and Academic Dishonesty among Malaysian Undergraduates

Abstract

Academic dishonesty (AD) is a significant problem in tertiary institutions worldwide, including Malaysia. The self-presentation theory suggests that AD may be committed in order to make or preserve a favourable image to others. Past studies have made the generalization that male students commit more AD compared to female women, however, few studies have looked into the actual differences in the instances and methods of AD across gender. Hence, the authors conducted a questionnaire to examine whether gender is a significant indicator of AD and whether there are differences in the types of AD committed. The results show that the male students outnumbered their female counterparts in all categories except crediting absent partners in group tasks. Findings of this study suggests that assessments should be designed to reward the quality, not the quantity, of output.