Research Article

University Students’ Perceptions about Unethical Faculty Practices

Volume: 6 Number: 1 March 31, 2023
TR EN

University Students’ Perceptions about Unethical Faculty Practices

Abstract

Global higher education systems and their stakeholders have substantially been affected by the transformative effects of neoliberal policies that challenged ethical practices through increasing competition, changing managerial understanding, diminishing academic freedom and meritocracy. Considering these effects, this research aims to investigate Turkish university students’ perceptions about unethical practices of faculty ranging from teaching and assessment to their service duties for students. In this qualitative study, 23 Turkish university students’ interview data were evaluated from The Cultural Dimensions Model of Hofstede. The overall impression was that students had high consciousness about academic codes of conduct. As to the major findings, while the top five frequently experienced unethical practices were “favoritism, professional incompetence, humiliation, autonomy vs. responsibility dilemma and verbal abuse”, only a few students defended their rights against unethical practices because they did not want to cause a problem or they had disbelief in positive change. The main implications of this study are for academic leaders to establish an anti-harassment office run by an independent body, for faculty to adopt a fair approach and be open to feedback, and for students to report concerns to faculty, make a complaint to authorities when necessary and develop their knowledge of academic ethics.

Keywords

References

  1. AAUP (n.d.), “Reports and Publications. Statement on Professional Ethics”, AAUP, https://www.aaup.org/report/statement-professional-ethics (Date of Access: 01.10.2023).
  2. ALTBACH, Philip G. (2004), “The Question of Corruption in Academe”, International Higher Education, S.34, ss.8-10, https://doi.org/10.6017/ihe.2004.34.7399.
  3. ANA, Joseph, KOEHLMOOS, Tracey, SMITH, Richard and YAN, Lijing L. (2013), “Research Misconduct in Low- and Middle-Income Countries”, Plos Medicine, S.10(3), ss.(e1001315), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001315.
  4. ANDERSON, Melissa S., HORN, Aaron S., RISBEY, Kelly R., RONNING, Emily A., DE VRIES, Raymond and MARTINSON, Brian C. (2007), “What Do Mentoring and Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research Have to do with Scientists’ Misbehavior? Findings from a National Survey of NIH-Funded Scientists”, Academic Medicine, S.82(9), ss.853–860, https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0b013e31812f764c.
  5. ANDERSON, Melissa S., RONNING, Emily A., DE VRIES, Raymond and MARTINSON, Brian C. (2007), “The Perverse Effects of Competition on Scientists’ Work and Relationships”, Science and Engineering Ethics, S.13(4), ss.437-461, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-007-9042-5.
  6. ANDERSON, Melissa S., SHAW, Marta A., STENECK, Nicholas H., KONKLE, Erin and KAMATA, Takehito (2013), “Research Integrity and Misconduct in the Academic Profession”, Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research (Ed. Michael B. Paulsen), Springer Publisher, Dordrecht, S.28, ss.217-261.
  7. ARMSTRONG, Elizabeth A., HAMILTON, Laura and SWEENEY, Brian (2006), “Sexual Assault on Campus: A Multilevel, Integrative Approach to Party Rape”, Social Problems, S.53(4), ss.483-499. https://doi.org/10.1525/sp.2006.53.4.483.
  8. ASLAN, Emrah and YILMAZ, Aynur (2021), “Examination of Faculty of Sports Sciences Students’ Unethical Behaviors in-Classroom: A Mixed Research Approach”, Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research, S.16(3), ss.127-149, https://doi.org/10.29329/epasr.2020.373.8.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Other Fields of Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 31, 2023

Submission Date

February 4, 2023

Acceptance Date

March 26, 2023

Published in Issue

Year 2023 Volume: 6 Number: 1

APA
Erdemir, B. (2023). University Students’ Perceptions about Unethical Faculty Practices. Uluslararası Yönetim Akademisi Dergisi, 6(1), 109-126. https://doi.org/10.33712/mana.1247554

Creative Commons Lisansı
This work (journal) is lisenced under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative 4.0 International License.