Caring or collusion? Academic dishonesty in a school of nursing

Abstract

Academic dishonesty is an issue that post-secondary institutions are having difficulty resolving. More than 100 studies have been conducted over the past 30 years, yet these studies have not provided data necessary to effectively address this problem. Indeed, research indicates that academic dishonesty is increasing. The purpose of this study was to determine the meaning of academic dishonesty as described and understood by nursing students at an Ontario university. Eleven students were interviewed to determine their perceptions regarding academic dishonesty. The data provided details of cheating behaviours and situations. Also significant were the students’ descriptions of their life worlds, in which academic dishonesty plays a role. As a result, this study demonstrated that situational factors, such as a caring curriculum, heavy workload, faculty attitudes, and technology, had an impact on both why and how these nursing students were collaborating with each other and cheating.