Multiple motivational goals, values, and willingness to cheat

The fundamental importance of motives, values and goals to academic behaviour has been noted by many social theorists. This paper reports the results of a survey investigation on the relationship of gender, professional career aspirations and the combined influence of materialism, religiosity, and achievement goals on students’ willingness to cheat and their self-reported cheating behaviour. Participants were high school students (grades nine through twelve) from central Thailand (N = 2123, males = 43.6% and females = 56.4%). Results of path analysis showed that materialism and performance avoidance goals associated positively with student willingness to cheat and self-reported frequency of cheating behaviour in math classrooms. Cluster analysis found that materialism and performance goal orientations differentiated all of the participants into one of two clusters: A “high willingness to cheat” cluster, comprised of a high proportion of males and students aspiring to business, accountancy, and related professions and a “low willingness to cheat” cluster, comprised of a high proportion of females and students aspiring to teaching, medicine, and related professions. Results have been discussed with respect to identity and gender role socialization theories.

► Materialism was associated with a higher willingness to cheat.
► Highly religious students were less likely to cheat but more likely to report.
► Career aspirations were strongly associated with student willingness to cheat.