Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Academic Integrity in Higher Education: the Case of a Medium-Size College in the Galilee, Israel

  • Published:
Journal of Academic Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An important measure of the success of an academic institution is evaluation of its moral health. In order to investigate academic integrity in our institution, we administered the Academic Integrity Survey (McCabe et al. 2001) to a representative sample of 384 students from different departments. In addition we performed content analysis on 24 disciplinary hearing files from the previous academic year in order to ascertain which students were brought before the committee and why. Results show that the majority of students perceived academic misconduct as a serious matter. Those who reported high on academic misconduct were concentrated among those who had not done national service, studied in the science faculty, and were Arabic-speaking students. Evaluation of the disciplinary hearings revealed that half the student brought before the committee were Arabic-speaking students despite their relatively small numbers in the college (approximately 16% of total student population). The findings suggest that prevention of academic misconduct should focus on supporting specific at-risk populations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander, M., Alexander, M. W., Mundrake, G. A., & Brown, B. J. (2009). Pre business college freshman perception of classroom behavior: An analysis among and between genders. The Journal of Research in Business Education, 51(2), 99–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ali, N. (2013). Representation of Arab citizens in the institutions of higher education in Israel. Sikkuy Haifa. Retrieved from http://www.sikkuy.org.il/wpcontent/uploads/2013/11/English_final 2014_representation_higher_education1.pdf.

  • Anitsal, I., Anitsal, M. M., & Elmore, R. (2009). Academic dishonesty and intention to cheat: A model on active versus passive academic dishonesty as perceived by business students. Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 13(2), 17–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arar, K., & Mustafa, M. (2011). Access to higher education for Palestinians in Israel. Education, Business and Society: Contemporary Middle Eastern Issues, 4(3), 207–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arar, K., Abramovitz, R., Bar-Yishay, H., & Notzer, N. (2017). Academic choices and motivation: Diverse groups in Israel. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 41(5), 642–656.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beasley, E. M. (2014). Students reported for cheating explain what they think would have stopped them. Ethics & Behavior, 24(3), 229–252. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2013.845533

  • Blau, I., Eshet-Alkalai, Y. & Friedman, A. (2017). Close educational gap by cheating? Comparing faculty, majority and minority students' perceptions of academic dishonesty. In J. Johnston (Ed.), Proceedings of EdMedia 2017 (pp. 118–122). Washington, DC: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). https://www.learntechlib.org/p/178310/. Accessed 8 November 2017.

  • Bolin, A. U. (2004) Self-control, perceived opportunity, and attitudes as predictors of academic dishonesty. The Journal of Psychology, 138(2), 101–114.

  • Bolton, R. N., Parasuraman, A., Hoefnagels, A., Migchels, N., Kabadayi, S., Gruber, T., … & Solnet, D. (2013). Understanding generation Y and their use of social media: A review and research agenda. Journal of Service Management, 24(3), 245–267. https://doi.org/10.1108/09564231311326987

  • Bretag, T., Mahmud, S., Wallace, M., Walker, R., McGowan, U., East, J., Green, M., Partridge, L., & James, C. (2014). "Teach us how to do it properly!": An Australian academic integrity student survey. Studies in Higher Education, 39(7), 1150–1169. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2013.777406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Bruin, G. P., & Rudnick, H. (2007). Examining the cheats: The role of conscientiousness and excitement seeking in academic dishonesty. South African Journal of Psychology, 37(1), 153–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elias, R. Z. (2009). The impact of anti-intellectualism attitudes and academic self-efficacy on business students’ perceptions of cheating. Journal of Business Ethics, 86(2), 199–209. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-008-9843-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evering, L. C., & Moorman, G. (2012). Rethinking plagiarism in the digital age. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 56(1), 35–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fishman, T. (Ed.). (2015). The fundamental values of academic integrity. International Center for Academic Integrity. http://www.academicintegrity.org/icai/assets/Revised_FV_2014.pdf.

  • Gallant, T. B., Binkin, N., & Donohue, M. (2015). Students at risk for being reported for cheating. Journal of Academic Ethics, 13(3), 217–228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-015-9235-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghanem, A. (2001). The Palestinian-Arab minority in Israel 1948–2000. Albany: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glendinning, I. (2014). Responses to student plagiarism in higher education across Europe. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 10(1), 4–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Granitz, N., & Loewy, D. (2007). Applying ethical theories: Interpreting and responding to student plagiarism. Journal of Business Ethics, 72(3), 293–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hager, T., & Jabareen, Y. (2016). From marginalisation to integration: Arab-Palestinians in Israeli academia. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 20(5), 455–473. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2015.1090488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heckler, N. C., & Forde, D. R. (2015). The role of cultural values in plagiarism in higher education. Journal of Academic Ethics, 13(1), 61–75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-014-9221-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hensley, L. C., Kirkpatrick, K. M., & Burgoon, J. M. (2013). Relation of gender, course enrollment, and grades to distinct forms of academic dishonesty. Teaching in Higher Education, 18(8), 895–907.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollinger, R. C., & Lanza-Kaduce, L. (2009). Academic dishonesty and the perceived effectiveness of countermeasures: An empirical survey of cheating at a major public university. NASPA Journal, 46(4), 587–602.

    Google Scholar 

  • Imran, A. M., & Nordin, M. S. (2013). Predicting the underlying factors of academic dishonesty among undergraduates in public universities: A path analysis approach. Journal of Academic Ethics, 11(2), 103–120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-013-9183-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jabareen, Y. T. (2006). Law and education: Critical perspectives on Arab Palestinian education in Israel. American Behavioral Scientist, 49(8), 1052–1074.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, Z. R., & Balasubramanian, S. (2012). Students go click, flick and cheat... E-cheating, technologies and more. Journal of Academic and Business Ethics, 6, 1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kisamore, J. L., Stone, T. H., & Jawahar, I. M. (2007). Academic integrity: The relationship between individual and situational factors on misconduct contemplations. Journal of Business Ethics, 75(4), 381–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C.-H., & Wen, L.-Y. (2007). Academic dishonesty in higher education – A nationwide study in Taiwan. Higher Education, 54(1), 85–97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-006-9047-z.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacGregor, J., & Stuebs, M. (2012). To cheat or not to cheat: Rationalizing academic impropriety. Accounting Education, 21(3), 265–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magnus, J. R., Polterovich, V. M., Danilov, D. L., & Savvateev, A. V. (2002). Tolerance of cheating: An analysis across countries. Journal of Economic Education, 33(2), 125–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCabe, D. L. (2005). Cheating among college and university students: A north American perspective. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 1(1), 1–11 http://www.ojs.unisa.edu.au/index.php/IJEI/article/viewFile/14/9%E2%80%9D. Accessed August 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCabe, D. L., Trevino, L. K., & Butterfield, K. D. (2001). Cheating in academic institutions: A decade of research. Ethics & Behavior, 11(3), 219–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCabe, D. L., Feghali, T., & Abdallah, H. (2008). Academic dishonesty in the Middle East: Individual and contextual factors. Research in Higher Education, 49(5), 451–467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-008-9092-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, C. (2013). Honesty, cheating, and character in college. Journal of College and Character, 14(3), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.1515/jcc-2013-0028.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, A., Shoptaugh, C., & Wooldridge, J. (2011). Reasons not to cheat, academic integrity responsibility, and frequency of cheating. Journal of Experimental Education, 79(2), 169–184. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220970903567830.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molnar, K. K. (2015). Students’ perceptions of academic dishonesty: A nine-year study from 2005 to 2013. Journal of Academic Ethics, 13(2), 135–150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-015-9231-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molnar, K. K., & Kletke, M. G. (2012). Does the type of cheating influence undergraduate students’ perceptions of cheating? Journal of Academic Ethics, 10(3), 201–212. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-012-9164-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molnar, K., Kletke, M., & Jenkel, I. (2009). Does the type of institution influence undergraduate students’ ethical opinions? Decision Sciences Institute Annual Meeting, 2009 Proceedings, New Orleans, LA.

  • Murdock, T. B., & Anderman, E. M. (2006). Motivational perspectives on student cheating: Toward an integrated model of academic dishonesty. Educational Psychologist, 41(3), 129–145. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15326985ep4103_1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osipian, A. L. (2008). Corruption in higher education: Does it differ across the nations and why? Research in Comparative and International Education, 3(4), 345–365. https://doi.org/10.2304/rcie.2008.3.4.345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peled, Y., & Khaldy, S. (2013). Discrimination, survival and tradition as argumentation for academic dishonesty. Educational Practice and Theory, 35(1), 41–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peled, Y., Eshet, Y., & Grinautski, K. (2013). Perceptions regarding the seriousness of academic dishonesty amongst students: A comparison between face-to-face and online courses. In Y. Eshet-Alkalai, A. Caspi, S. Eden, N. Geri, Y. Kalman, & Y. Yair (Eds.), Proceedings of the Chais conference on instructional technologies research 2013: Learning in the technological era (pp. 69–74). Raanana: The Open University of Israel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peppas, S. (2002). Attitudes towards business ethics: Where east doesn’t meet west. Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, 9(4), 42–59. https://doi.org/10.1108/13527600210797488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry, B. (2010). Exploring academic misconduct: Some insights into student behavior. Active Learning in Higher Education, 11(2), 97–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pittam, G., Elander, J., Lusher, J., Fox, P., & Payne, N. (2009). Student beliefs and attitudes about authorial identity in academic writing. Studies in Higher Education, 34(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/03075070802528270.

  • Rettinger, D. A., & Kramer, Y. (2009). Situational and personal causes of student cheating. Research in Higher Education, 5(3), 293–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, J. T. (2015). The under-attainment of ethnic minority students in UK higher education: What we know and what we don’t know. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 39(2), 278–291. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2013.858680.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saulsbury, M. D., Brown, U. J., Heyliger, S. O., & Beale, R. L. (2011). Effect of dispositional traits on pharmacy students’ attitude toward cheating. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 75(4), 69. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe75469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shu, L. L., Gino, F., & Bazerman, M. H. (2011). Dishonest deed, clear conscience: When cheating leads to moral disengagement and motivated forgetting. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37(3), 330–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, C. A., Carr, J. R., McCullough, S. M., Morgan, S. J., Oleson, T., & Ressel, M. (2004). Gender, student perceptions, institutional commitments and academic dishonesty: Who reports in academic dishonesty cases? Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 29(1), 75–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/0260293032000158171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smyth, M. L., & Davis, J. R. (2004). Perceptions of dishonesty among two-year college students: Academic versus business situations. Journal of Business Ethics, 51(1), 63–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smyth, L. S., Davis, J. R., & Kroncke, C. O. (2009). Students’ perceptions of business ethics: Using cheating as a surrogate for business situations. Journal of Education for Business, 84(4), 229–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, J. (2013). Millennials: The me me me generation. Time, 20 May, pp. 26-33 (cover story).

  • Teixeira, A. A., & Rocha, M. F. (2006). Academic cheating in Austria, Portugal, Romania and Spain: A comparative analysis. Research in Comparative and International Education, 1(3), 198–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trautner, N. M., & Borland, E. (2013). Using the sociological imagination to teach about academic integrity. Teaching Sociology, 41(4), 377–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trushell, J. J., Byrne, K. K., & Simpson, R. R. (2012). Cheating behaviours, the internet and education undergraduate students. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 28(2), 136–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Voelker, T. A., Love, L. G., & Pentina, I. (2012). Plagiarism: What don't they know? Journal of Education for Business, 87(1), 36–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vowell, P. R., & Chen, J. (2004). Predicting academic misconduct: A comparative test of four sociological explanations. Sociological Inquiry, 74(2), 226–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, T., Chesnut, S. R., Barnard-Brak, L., & Schmidt, M. (2014). University students’ perceptions of academic cheating: Triangulating quantitative and qualitative findings. Journal of Academic Ethics, 12(4), 287–298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-014-9219-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wideman, M. A. (2008). Academic dishonesty in postsecondary education: A literature review. Transformative Dialogues: Teaching & Learning Journal, 2(1), 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yirmiyahu, A., Rubin, O. D., & Malul, M. (2017). Does greater accessibility to higher education reduce wage inequality? The case of the Arab minority in Israel. Studies in Higher Education, 42(6), 1071–1090.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zysberg, L., Maskit, D., Reichman, R., & Hecht, A. (2016). Sin and punishment on campus: Ethnic differences in academic misconduct and its treatment by the academic disciplinary committee. British Journal of Education, Society & Behavioural Science, 15(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.9734/BJESBS/2016/25666.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, Tel Hai College, 1220800, Upper Galilee, Israel

    Jonathan Kasler

  2. Department of Psychology, Tel Hai College, 1220800, Upper Galilee, Israel

    Meirav Hen

  3. Department of Social Work, Tel Hai College, 1220800, Upper Galilee, Israel

    Adi Sharabi-Nov

Authors
  1. Jonathan Kasler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Meirav Hen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Adi Sharabi-Nov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jonathan Kasler.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kasler, J., Hen, M. & Sharabi-Nov, A. Academic Integrity in Higher Education: the Case of a Medium-Size College in the Galilee, Israel. J Acad Ethics 17, 151–167 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-018-9307-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-018-9307-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation