The role of moral self-regulation in mediating the effect of goal orientation on academic integrity

Abstract

Previous research has explored possible reasons to conduct academic dishonesty while there are only a few research studies that investigate the strategies to promote academic integrity and do not look at moral self-regulation as a mediating variable. This study, therefore, aims to examine whether moral self-regulation mediates the effects of mastery goal orientation and performance goal orientation on academic integrity. A self-report scale was distributed to 251 students (M = 41%; F = 59%) of one state Islamic university in Jakarta, Indonesia, in which the structural equation model was used to analyse the data. Using the root mean square error of approximation, comparative fit index and Tucker–Lewis Index as indicators of the model of fit, the results proved that moral self-regulation mediated two mentioned variables affecting academic integrity. This finding implies the need to consider the inclusion of moral self-regulation in the academic life of students.