Self-Reported Academic Misconduct among Medical Students: Perception and Prevalence
1Department of Community and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka 72388, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia.
Thescientificworldjournal
|September 3, 2021
Summary
Academic integrity is crucial in medical education. A survey found that while most students recognize academic misconduct, a significant portion admit to engaging in dishonest behaviors, highlighting a need for ethical guideline development.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Academic Ethics
- Student Behavior
Background:
- Academic integrity forms the foundation of educational systems and professional ethics.
- Honesty and truthfulness in academic pursuits foster professional integrity and responsibility.
- Understanding the prevalence of academic lapses is vital for medical school ethical development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of academic lapses among medical students.
- To explore students' perceptions of various academic misconduct behaviors.
- To identify factors influencing future engagement in academic dishonesty.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional descriptive survey utilizing a self-assessment questionnaire.
- Exploration of students' perceptions of 37 behaviors across five domains: plagiarism, indolence, cheating, disruptive behavior, and data falsification.
- Multiple regression analysis to identify correlations with future indulgence in misconduct.
Main Results:
- 83% of students identified all 37 behaviors as misconduct.
- 65% perceived fellow students engaged in dishonest behaviors; 34% admitted personal involvement.
- Prevalent behaviors included doing work for others (82.5%), obtaining prior exam information (82.5%), copying answers (79%), and attendance marking for friends (74.5%).
- Understanding a behavior as wrong, perceiving peer involvement, and prior indulgence significantly correlated with future misconduct.
Conclusions:
- A substantial percentage of medical students engage in and perceive academic misconduct.
- Factors such as perceived peer behavior and prior experience influence future academic dishonesty.
- Findings can inform diagnostic tools and ethical guideline development in medical schools.
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