Is the Cheating Risk Always Higher in Online Instruction Compared to Face-to-Face Instruction?

Oskar R. Harmon (), James Lambrinos and Judy Buffolino
Additional contact information
James Lambrinos: Union Graduate College
Judy Buffolino: University of Connecticut

No 2008-14, Working papers from University of Connecticut, Department of Economics

Abstract: This article analyzes the exposure to cheating risk of online courses relative to face-to-face courses at a single institution. For our sample of 20 online courses we report that the cheating risk is higher than for equivalent face-to-face courses because of reliance on un-proctored multiple choice exams. We conclude that the combination of a proctored final exam, and strategic use cheating deterrents in the administration of un-proctored multiple choice exams, would significantly reduce the cheating risk differential without substantially altering the assessment design of online instruction.

Keywords: Academic Dishonesty; Cheating; Online Instruction; Principles of Economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: Written 2008-04
View list of references

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.econ.uconn.edu/working/2008-14.pdf Full text (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Working papers from University of Connecticut, Department of Economics
Address: University of Connecticut 341 Mansfield Road, Unit 1063 Storrs, CT 06269-1063
Contact information at EDIRC.
Series data maintained by Christian Zimmermann ().