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Situational Ethics and College Student Cheating
Author(s) -
LaBeff Emily E.,
Clark Robert E.,
Haines Valerie J.,
Diekhoff George M.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
sociological inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.446
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1475-682X
pISSN - 0038-0245
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-682x.1990.tb00138.x
Subject(s) - cheating , situational ethics , context (archaeology) , social psychology , psychology , sociology , biology , paleontology
This report examines instances of self‐reported cheating engaged in by college students, fifty‐four percent of whom reported at least one incidence of cheating. Descriptive responses are analyzed in the context of techniques of neutralization. The neutralizing attitude held by these student cheaters suggests that situational ethics are involved. Although the respondents indicate disapproval of cheating, many students feel justified in cheating under certain circumstances.