Detecting and Preventing Cheating in Exams: Evidence from a Field Experiment

Rincke J, Glogowsky U, Cagala T (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Journal of Human Resources

DOI: 10.3368/jhr.0620-10947r1

Abstract

This paper examines how to detect, document, and prevent plagiarism in exams. First, to identify and quantify plagiarism, we propose methods that compare similarities in multiple-choice answers between seat neighbors and non-neighbors. Second, we document cheating in undergraduate exams. Under baseline monitoring, at least 7.7% of the row-wise neighbor pairs plagiarized. Pairs composed of academically weaker students cheated more. Third, using a field experiment, we demonstrate that close monitoring eliminated cheating. By contrast, signing an honesty declaration doubled cheating relative to the control group. Complementary experiments suggest that the declaration backfired because it weakened the social norm of academic integrity.

Authors with CRIS profile

Johannes Rincke Lehrstuhl für Volkswirtschaftslehre, insbesondere Wirtschaftspolitik Ulrich Glogowsky
Tobias Cagala

Involved external institutions

Johannes Kepler Universität (JKU) Linz AT Austria (AT) Deutsche Bundesbank DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Rincke, J., Glogowsky, U., & Cagala, T. (2022). Detecting and Preventing Cheating in Exams: Evidence from a Field Experiment. Journal of Human Resources. https://dx.doi.org/10.3368/jhr.0620-10947r1

MLA:

Rincke, Johannes, Ulrich Glogowsky, and Tobias Cagala. "Detecting and Preventing Cheating in Exams: Evidence from a Field Experiment." Journal of Human Resources (2022).

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