Causes of academic dishonesty essay

Academic dishonesty is a serious issue that can have negative consequences for students and educational institutions. Academic dishonesty can take many forms, from plagiarism to cheating on tests and exams. This essay will explore the main causes of academic dishonesty, in order to better understand why it occurs and how it can be prevented.

One of the major causes of academic dishonesty is a lack of understanding among students about what constitutes academic dishonesty and how it should be avoided. When students are not aware of the rules or the consequences associated with cheating, they are more likely to disregard them. This lack of understanding can also lead to a false sense of entitlement, with some students feeling they can take shortcuts in their studies and still achieve the same results as their peers.

Another cause of academic dishonesty is academic pressure. With increasing competition in education and the need to meet high standards, some students feel they need to resort to cheating in order to get ahead. This pressure can come from both within and outside of the classroom, with parents and other family members often pushing their children to achieve higher grades.

Time pressure is another factor that can drive students to cheat. Faced with a large workload and a tight deadline, some students may feel there is no other option but to resort to cheating in order to complete the task in time. Similarly, some students may feel that the time investment required to properly research and complete an assignment is too great, and so opt to plagiarise instead.

Finally, peer pressure can also play a role in driving academic dishonesty. Seeing other students get away with cheating can lead some students to believe that it is an acceptable behaviour, particularly if they feel they are falling behind their peers.

In conclusion, academic dishonesty is caused by a variety of factors, including a lack of understanding of the rules, academic pressure, time pressure, and peer pressure. It is important that students understand the consequences of cheating and are aware of their options for completing assignments without resorting to dishonesty.