Source Is Important When Developing a Social Norms Campaign to Combat Academic Dishonesty

Abstract

This study examined the effect of information source on students' estimates of academic dishonesty. Undergraduates read an estimate of the incidence of academic dishonesty. Half of the participants were told that the source was a professor’s study and the other half heard that the source was a student’s study. Participants then estimated the likelihood that they, their friends, and the average college student would plagiarize or cheat on tests. Results indicated that when the source of the statistic was a professor, students were more likely to provide estimates of cheating and plagiarism that more closely approximated the provided statistic. The authors discuss how these findings might be used to enhance social norms campaign efforts.