Psychometric Properties of Academic Dishonesty Tendency Scale for Graduate Students and Investigating Academic Dishonesty Tendency Levels with CHAID Analysis

Abstract

The number of unethical academic dishonesty behaviours is increasing with each day in higher education. Thus, it is important to determine the level of the behaviour of academic dishonesty in the education system, the tendencies of students to perform this behaviour, and the individuals who have a tendency to show this behaviour in advance. The research has two different aims. The first one is to determine the psychometric properties of the Academic Dishonesty Tendency Scale (ADTS) originally developed for undergraduate students, not for graduate students. The second aim is to investigate the variables that best explain the academic dishonesty tendency levels of the students who continue their graduate education by using the CHAID analysis method. As a result of the analyses, it was determined that the Academic Dishonesty Tendency Scale is also a valid and reliable measurement tool for graduate students. The only significant variable explaining the students' Tendency Towards Cheating was found to be the level of graduate education. It was also determined that the most important variable affecting the "dishonesty tendency at studies as homework, project, etc.-common" is the level of graduate education. The only significant variable explaining the "dishonesty tendency at research and process of write up" was found to be the reason for receiving graduate education. The most significant variable explaining the "dishonesty tendency towards reference" of the students was found to be the level of graduate education. It was determined that the most significant variable explaining the Academic Dishonesty Tendency of the students is the level of graduate education.