Exploring Students’ Perception and Experience of Ghostwriting and Contract Cheating in Nigeria Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Ghostwriting and contract cheating constitute serious facets of academic misconduct in Nigerian Higher Education Institutions (NHEI) of learning. Management of these practices have remained elusive as they are impervious to traditional anti-plagiarism techniques. However, despite the prevalence of these practices, gaps in knowledge remain regarding how they are perceived by NHEI students. Most of the existent knowledge is based on untested theories and beliefs but it is imperative that, for an educational system to be successful, there is a need to have an in-depth understanding of their students. The research involves the use of surveys and interview of participants with experiential knowledge, and the purpose of this paper is to provide an insight to student perceptions on ghostwriting and contract cheating in NHEI. The consequence of the findings of this study is the information it provides the NHEI as they attempt to understand, evaluate and manage the occurrence of these practices. This paper concluded that the initial perception of contract cheating and ghostwriting by the Nigerian student is that it is an ethical practice with significant ramifications. However, this view is distorted due to two factors which have caused participating Nigerian students to believe it is a practice that is worth partaking in.