ICT facilitated access to information and undergraduates' cheating behaviours

This paper describes an illuminative small-scale study that featured a survey instrument, distributed to 66 undergraduate students of Education and social science. The investigation concerned students' use of ICT—including a virtual learning environment and the Internet—and students' engagement in lecturer impressing strategies and cheating behaviours such as plagiarism. Analysis of data discerned a number of age related behaviours, e.g. younger respondents engaged in social and leisure activities on the Internet significantly more frequently and demonstrated a greater tendency to engage in certain lecturer impressing strategies. However, generally, indicators of ICT usage and overall lecturer impressing strategies and cheating behaviours showed no significant differences by age of respondent. The findings would not support the contention that younger students use ICT more frequently or engage in cheating behaviours disproportionately. Inferences are tentatively drawn for further research and for academic practices.

► 66 undergraduate Education students completed a survey. ► No significant differences were found for reported capability with selected software by age. ► Students aged <26 years were significantly more likely to use Internet for leisure. ► Students aged <26 were significantly likelier to try to impress but not to cheat. ► The study does not support the notion that younger students use ICT to cheat.