Academic Dishonesty among Undergraduate Students in a Korean University

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the determinants of alternative forms of academic misconduct among undergraduate students in a Korean university. An economic model of college cheating is estimated using logistic regression. The study differs from other studies in that it frames the issue of academic dishonesty in the context of recent developments to internationalize higher education in Korea, highlighting certain unique aspects of the Korean educational system that are undergoing rapid change and have largely remained unexamined in the literature. The presence of a native English-speaking foreign instructor in class, English-taught classes, and class levels are significant predictors of in-class cheating and such types of academic misconduct as seeking outside help and plagiarism. GPA, class size, cheating tolerance, and study-abroad experience are significant in some types of illicit academic behavior but not in others. Gender and being a foreign student turn out to be weak predictors.