Perceptions and attitudes of cheating among faculty nursing students at Tanta University

Abstract

Abstract :These days' students are often involved in cheating and mass copying. Cheating in classroom or clinical settings may reduce a student’s competence and hence, put patients at risk .

 Aim :  The aim of this study was to describe perceptions and attitudes of cheating among faculty nursing students .

Method: Descriptive  design was used. the study was conducted at Faculty of Nursing at Tanta University. The sample consists of 508 undergraduate nursing students in the above mentioned setting .The data of the study was collected by using nursing students' perceptions and attitudes of cheating questionnaire .

Results: The results of the study showed that more than seventy (71.85%) of nursing students  had moderate perceptions of cheating. More than sixty(65.94%) of nursing students described  the most of cheating attitude statements as  cheating. There were negative correlation  among  nursing students' perceptions of cheating in 1st , 2nd  ,3rd & 4th year and their  academic achievement  at P<0.01. There were negative correlation  among  nursing students' perceptions of cheating in 1^st , 2^nd  ,3^rd & 4^th year as well as total perceptions and their  academic achievement  at P<0.01.

 Conclusion: This study concluded that nursing students had moderate perception of cheating .  They are perceived that the responsibility to limit cheating belongs to the instructors ,the institution and students themselves as well as other students cheat more frequently than I do. They are believed that the most attitude statements of cheating  are cheating. The current study results indicate that nursing student's perceptions of  cheating had negative impact on  their academic achievement.

Recommendations: According to this study results it is recommended that that faculty together with students should develop and implement a code of honor to improve the perceptions of students regarding cheating behaviors and promote integrity in the academic environment, as well as student perception of cheating behavior, attitudes, values and beliefs all must be taken into account