It is commonly believed that highly subjective humans ultimately perform all testing and grading efforts and that all testing and grading is completely subjective. However, Quentin Durham argues that there is no such thing as objective testing or grading. With wit and clarity, "The Realities of Classroom Testing and Grading" suggests that all…

Large-scale testing programs are generally based on the assumptions that the test-takers experience standard conditions for taking the test and that everyone will do his or her own work without having prior knowledge of specific questions. These assumptions are not necessarily true. The ways students and educators use to get around standardizing…

This paper addresses the subject of cheating and plagiarism via the World Wide Web. After spending just a few hours browsing on the Internet, the author found dozens of "cheat" sites that offered term papers of all kinds. Some sites charge a fee for papers, some sites only request that students join by sending in one of their papers to add to the…

Discusses legal actions taken in Wisconsin and California against the public sale of term papers. Requests the academic community to take the responsibility of helping students in acquiring a constructive view of education. (CC)

Investigates the resistance to temptation of disadvantaged 5-year-old Negro children in a game-like situation. (WY)

A statement adopted by the Executive Council of the Association of American Medical Colleges addresses the issues of accountability, investigation, and discipline in cases of research fraud and misconduct. Guidelines are given for institutions to develop policy and procedures for detecting and responding to alleged fraud. (MSE)

In cases of cheating, plagiarism, or violations of the law in dental education, a very high level of due process is required. University counsel can help administrators determine whether an accused student is professionally suited to dentistry by characterizing as many corrective actions as possible as academic under the rubric of "suitability to…

Results are reported from a study that examined the relationship between academic dishonesty and contextual and social alienation among public and private school ninth through twelfth graders (N=1,534). Cheating was more prevalent among private school White males and among students who exhibited a high level of contextual alienation. (IAH)

This article gives a personal account of the effects of a district-wide policy of "teaching to the test" on teachers, administrators, and the curriculum. The effects include low teacher morale and incidents of cheating by administrators and teachers. (IAH)

After suspension of its football program, Southern Methodist University has established a course, required of athletes, covering such topics as National Collegiate Athletic Association standards and regulations, dealing with agents and media, athletes' rights, the ethics of drug testing, and the significance of race and gender in college sports.…

The Association of American Medical Colleges' statement defines misconduct in research, discusses its prevention, and outlines suggested processes and policy for handling allegations of misconduct, appeal and final review, and disciplinary action. (MSE)

A survey of 2,459 medical students found that 39% had witnessed cheating in their first 2 years of medical school, and 66.5% had heard about cheating. About 5% reported having cheated during that time. Students appeared resigned to the fact of cheating, but lacked consensus about how to proceed when witnessing it. Guidance in intervening in…

A 2-phase study (n=330 students, n=90 students) in 3 colleges developed a self-report survey to measure characteristics of students involved in academic misconduct. Five misconduct constructs were identified: cheating on tests and assignments; inappropriate use of resources; quasi-misconduct; subtle manipulation of faculty; and bold manipulation…

A discussion of academic dishonesty among college students reviews research on cheating, then assesses dominant cognitive processes students use to rationalize cheating in one college and compares findings with previous studies. Faculty and administrators are encouraged to challenge student accounts of cheating and other questionable conduct found…

The issue of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, cheating on tests, and falsification of data by students, is examined. Legal cases are reviewed; the University of Iowa school of social work's policy on academic misconduct is presented; and other avenues of intervention and prevention are discussed. (Author/MSE)