TY - JOUR T1 - DISTANCE EDUCATION STUDENTS’ INDULGENCE IN SIX SHARP PRACTICES: GENERAL LINEAR MODELLING OF PREDICTIVE PARAMETERS AU - Owan, Valentine Joseph AU - Chuktu, Onyinye AU - Dıjeh, Ann E. AU - Zaafour, Abderrazak AU - Ukah, Julius U. AU - Chukwurah, Margaret U. AU - Ube, Denis A. AU - Asuquo, Michael E. AU - Uwase, Esuong U. AU - Udıda, Udida J. AU - Ojong, Cyprian O. PY - 2023 DA - July DO - 10.17718/tojde.1138050 JF - Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education JO - TOJDE PB - Anadolu University WT - DergiPark SN - 1302-6488 SP - 71 EP - 92 VL - 24 IS - 3 LA - en AB - This study examined the degree to which students indulge in six prominent misconducts in Distance Education Institutions (DEIs). The study also quantified how class size, instructional delivery and institutional policies predict students’ indulgence in sharp practices using a general linear modelling approach. A sample of 871 participants was drawn from 1,742 final-year students across two DEIs in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire had acceptable psychometric estimates of dimensionality, content and construct validity, as well as reliability. Sharp practices such as cheating, plagiarism, falsification, impersonation, and arm-twisting were more prevalent in large classes, whereas only inducement was higher in small classes. Class size influenced students’ indulgence in sharp practices in DEIs. Instructional delivery and institutional policies negatively predicted students’ indulgence in the six sharp practices. Almost all the six sharp practices correlated positively and significantly, except for impersonation and inducement. Therefore, distance education students who cheat, plagiarize, arm-twist, falsify records, induce lecturers, and promote impersonation are more likely to indulge in other forms of sharp practices. It was concluded that large class sizes, poor instructional delivery, and poorly implemented institutional policies promote sharp practices among distance education students. Based on this conclusion, key policy and research implications are discussed. KW - Academic misconduct KW - cheating KW - corruption KW - examination malpractice KW - unethical practices. CR - Abanobi, C. C. (2017). Undergraduates' perception of unethical practices among lecturers in higher institutions in Delta State. IJRDO-Journal of Educational Research, 2(11), 123-133. https://doi.org/10.53555/er.v2i11.454 CR - Adeoti, Y. F., Olufunke, Y. R., & Ruth, B. O. (2015). Factor responsible for examination malpractices as expressed by undergraduates of Osun State University, Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(33), 75-80. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1083614.pdf CR - Amrane-Cooper, L., Hatzipanagos, S., & Tait, A. (2022). Developing student behaviours that support academic integrity in distance learning. Open Praxis, 13(4), 378–384. https://doi.org/10.55982/openpraxis.13.4.461 CR - Archibong, I. A. (2012). Forms of dishonesty amongst academic staff and the way forward. Canadian Social Science, 8(6), 39-43. http://doi.org/10.3968/j.css.1923669720130901.1057 CR - Arop, F. O., Ekpang, M. A., Nwannunu, B. I., & Owan, V. J. (2018). Personnel management and corrupt academic practices in universities in Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 6(9), 405–419. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3250019 CR - Bachore, M. M. (2016). The nature, causes and practices of academic dishonesty/cheating in higher education: The case of Hawassa University. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(19), 14-20. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1109249.pdf CR - Bassey, B. A., & Owan, V. J. (2020). Higher-ordered test items as assessment practice in higher education during Pandemics: Implications for effective e-learning and safety. In V. C. Emeribe, L. U. Akah, O. A. Dada, D. A. Alawa, & B. A. Akuegwu (Eds.), Multidisciplinary issues in health, human kinetics and general education practices (pp. 395–409). University of Calabar Press. https://bit.ly/31J4Zil CR - Bassey, B. A., Owan, V. J., & Agunwa, J. N. (2019). Quality assurance practices and students’ performance evaluation in universities of South-South Nigeria: A structural equation modelling approach. British Journal of Psychology Research, 7(3), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4458641 CR - Bassey, B. A., Ubi, I. O., Anagbougu, G. E., & Owan, V. J. (2020). Permutation of UTME multiple-choice test items on performance in use of English and mathematics among prospective higher education students. The Journal of Social Sciences Research, 6(4), 483–493. https://doi.org/10.32861/jssr.64.483.493 CR - Boateng, G. O., Neilands, T. B., Frongillo, E. A., Melgar-Quiñonez, H. R., & Young, S. L. (2018). Best practices for developing and validating scales for health, social, and behavioral research: A Primer. Frontiers in Public Health, 6, Article number 149. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00149 CR - Burgason, K. A., Sefiha, O., & Briggs, L. (2019). Cheating is in the eye of the beholder: An evolving understanding of academic misconduct. Innovative Higher Education, 44(3), 203–218. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-019-9457-3 CR - Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioural sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers. https://bit.ly/3NoWpav CR - Ekahitanond, V. (2014). Students’ perception and behavior of academic integrity: A case study of a writing forum activity. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 15(4), 150-161. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.55218 CR - Ekanem, E. E. (2016). Average class size distribution effects on students’ social well-being in university teacher education programmes in Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative Education Research 4(3), 23-31. https://bit.ly/3AchkdR CR - Ekechukwu, R., & Nwamadi, L. (2017). Predictive determinants of teachers’ psychological variables on students examination malpractice tendency in public junior secondary schools in Rivers State, Nigeria. European Journal of Research and Reflection in Educational Sciences, 5(1), 50-57. https://bit.ly/39ZWq6X CR - Elsalem, L., Al-Azzam, N., Jum'ah, A. A., & Obeidat, N. (2021). Remote E-exams during Covid-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study of students’ preferences and academic dishonesty in faculties of medical sciences. Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 62, 326-333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2021.01.054 CR - Eneji, C. V. O., Petters, J. S., Esuabana, S. B., Onnoghen, N. U., Udumo, B. O., Ambe, B. A., Essien, E. E., Unimna F. A., Alawa D. A., & Ikutal, A. (2022). University academic dishonesty and graduate quality for national development and global competitiveness: Nigerian universities in perspective. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 21(5), 401-427. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.21.5.20 CR - Erdfelder, E., FAul, F., Buchner, A., & Lang, A. G. (2009). Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: Tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behavior Research Methods, 41(4), 1149–1160. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149 CR - Fask, A., Englander, F., & Wang, Z. (2015). On the integrity of online testing for introductory statistics courses: A latent variable approach. Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation, 20(1), Article No10. https://doi.org/10.7275/bmdh-2q13 CR - Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Lang, A. G., & Buchner, A. (2007). G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods, 39(2), 175–191. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193146 CR - Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error: Algebra and statistics. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(3), 382–388. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800313 CR - Giluk, T. L., & Postlethwaite, B. E. (2015). Big five personality and academic dishonesty: A meta-analytic review. Personality and Individual Differences, 72, 59-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.08.027 CR - Gullifer, J. M., & Tyson, G. A. (2014). Who has read the policy on plagiarism? Unpacking students' understanding of plagiarism. Studies in Higher Education, 39(7), 1202-1218. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2013.777412 CR - Hadi, H. J., Omar, M. A., Osman, W. R. S., Ibrahim, M. F., & Hussaini, M. (2020). Performing a content validity: Establishing a reliable instrument to measure the intention to adopt cloud computing software as a service in public organisation. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology, 98(22), 3531–3540. https://bit.ly/38AU39P CR - Hafeez, K., Khan, M. L. U. Z., Jawaid, M., & Haroon, S. (2013). Academic misconduct among students in medical colleges of Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 29(3), 699-702. https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.293.3300 CR - Hunter, J., & Kier, C. A. (2022). Canadian open digital distance education universities and academic integrity. In S. E. Eaton (Ed), Academic integrity in Canada (pp. 249-266). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83255-1_13 CR - Joshua, M. T. (2019). Battles in the classroom: Evaluation of teaching and learning to the rescue. Calabar: University of Calabar Press CR - Kanat-Maymon, Y., Benjamin, M., Stavsky, A., Shoshani, A., & Roth, G. (2015). The role of basic need fulfillment in academic dishonesty: A self-determination theory perspective. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 43, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2015.08.002 CR - Kumar, M. N. (2008). A review of the types of scientific misconduct in biomedical research. Journal of Academic Ethics, 6(3), 211-228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-008-9068-6 CR - LaDuke, R. D. (2013). Academic dishonesty today, unethical practices tomorrow?. Journal of Professional Nursing, 29(6), 402-406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2012.10.009 CR - Lanier, M. M. (2006). Academic integrity and distance learning. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 17(2), 244-261. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511250600866166 CR - Lawshe, C. H. (1975). A quantitative approach to content validity. Personnel Psychology, 28(4), 563–575. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1975.tb01393.x CR - Madukwe, E. C., Nwannunu, B. I., & Owan, V. J. (2019). Principals’ supervisory techniques for combating corruption and the attainment of quality school governance in public secondary schools in Aba Education Zone of Abia State, Nigeria. International Journal of Educational Benchmark, 13(2), 113–123. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4320661 CR - Malik, M. A., Mahroof, A., & Ashraf, M. A. (2021). Online university students’ perceptions on the awareness of, reasons for, and solutions to plagiarism in higher education: The Development of the AS&P model to combat plagiarism. Applied Sciences, 11(24), Article No. 12055. https://doi.org/10.3390/app112412055 CR - Malik, S. K. (2015). Strategies for maintaining quality in distance higher education. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 16(1), 238-248. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.62095 CR - Memory, Q., & Abosede, A. O. (2021). Assessment of the predictive validity of entrance examination questions (EEQ) of Nigerian Baptist theological seminary, Ogbomoso. IJER-International Journal of Educational Research, 4(9), 10-20. https://bit.ly/3xXsMHE CR - Miller, Y., & Ronit, I. (2017). Students' involvement in academic dishonesty and their attitudes towards copying in examinations and academic papers. Sociology and Anthropology, 5(3), 225 – 232. https://doi.org/10.13189/sa.2017.050306 CR - Muchai, J. (2014). An investigation into factors that contribute to cheating in examinations in technical institutions in Central Province, Kenya. (Unpublished Master’s Thesis), University of South Africa. https://uir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/14304 CR - Mundfrom, D. J., Shaw, D. G., & Ke, T. L. (2005). Minimum Sample Size Recommendations for Conducting Factor Analyses. International Journal of Testing, 5(2), 159–168. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327574ijt0502_4 CR - Odigwe, F. N., Offem, O. O., & Owan, V. J. (2018). Vocational training duration and university graduates’ job performance in Cross River State, Nigeria. International Journal of Current Research, 10(7), 72024–72028. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4320545 CR - Oko, O. F., Nguwasen, M. N., & Ajaegbo, A. N. (2017). Examination malpractices as the bane of Nigeria education system: Implications for educational planning and management. American Journal of Education and Learning, 2(1), 96-102. https://doi.org/10.20448/804.2.1.96.102 CR - Owan, V. J. (2020). Computer-administered testing practice in higher education in era of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related diseases outbreaks. In V. C. Emeribe, L. U. Akah, O. A. Dada, D. A. Alawa, & B. A. Akuegwu (Eds.), Multidisciplinary issues in health, human kinetics and general education practices (pp. 429–442). University of Calabar Press. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3906923 CR - Owan, V. J., Asuquo, M. E., & Etudo-Eyor, E. (2022). Leadership styles, public relation skills and School-community collaboration: A quantitative analysis of the perception of stakeholders. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 00(00), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2022.2045627 CR - Petters, J. S., & Okon, M. O. (2014). Students’ perception of causes and effects of examination malpractice in the Nigerian educational system: The way forward for quality education. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 114, 125-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.12.671 CR - Saana, S. B. B. M. Ablordeppey, E., Mensah, N. J., & Karikari, T. K. (2016). Academic dishonesty in higher education: Students’ perceptions and involvement in an African institution. BMC Research Notes, 9(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-016-2044-0 CR - Shraım, K. (2019). Online examination practices in higher education institutions: Learners’ perspectives. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 20(4), 185-196. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.640588 CR - Starovoytova, D., & Namango, S. (2016). Factors affecting cheating behavior at undergraduate engineering. Journal of Education and Practice, 8(31), 66-82. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1122521.pdf CR - Tee, S., & Curtis, K. (2018). Academic misconduct: helping students retain their moral compass. Nurse Education Today, 61, 153-154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2017.11.030 CR - Tsai, N. W. (2016). Assessment of students’ learning behavior and academic misconduct in a student-pulled online learning and student-governed testing environment: A case study. Journal of Education for Business, 91(7), 387-392. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2016.1238808 CR - Uakarn, C. (2021). Sample size estimation using Yamane and Cochran and Krejcie and Morgan and Green formulas and Cohen statistical power analysis by G*power and comparisons. Apheit International Journal, 10(2), 76–88. https://bit.ly/3ymTudZ CR - Valizadeh, M. (2022). Cheating in online learning programs: Learners’ perceptions and solutions. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 23(1), 195–209. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.1050394 CR - Williams, S., Tanner, M., Beard, J., & Chacko, J. (2014). Academic misconduct among business students: A comparison of the US and UAE. Journal of Academic Ethics, 12(1), 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-013-9200-0 CR - Xiao, J., & Wilkins, S. (2015). The effects of lecturer commitment on student perceptions of teaching quality and student satisfaction in Chinese higher education. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 37(1), 98-110. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2014.992092 CR - Zamanzadeh, V., Ghahramanian, A., Rassouli, M., Abbaszadeh, A., Alavi-Majd, H., & Nikanfar, A.-R. (2015). Design and implementation content validity study: Development of an instrument for measuring patient-centred communication. Journal of Caring Sciences, 4(2), 165–178. https://doi.org/10.15171/jcs.2015.017 UR - https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.1138050 L1 - https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2516030 ER -