1st Edition

Cheating on Tests How To Do It, Detect It, and Prevent It

By Gregory J. Cizek Copyright 1999
    284 Pages
    by Routledge

    280 Pages
    by Routledge

    This is the first book to offer a comprehensive look at the problem of cheating on assessments (tests) across all levels of the American educational system. It is organized around seven major objectives that identify this problem by:
    1. introducing and defining the problem of cheating and documenting the extent of its occurrence;
    2. cataloging and presenting information on the methods used to cheat on tests;
    3. providing information on methods useful for preventing cheating;
    4. describing methods used to detect cheating once it has occurred;
    5. synthesizing what is known about predispositions, correlates, and cultural differences in cheating;
    6. summarizing legal issues related to cheating; and
    7. illustrating ways in which individuals and institutions respond to cheating.

    Cheating on Tests is informally written using a minimum of professional jargon and numerous anecdotes and cases. Technical information is largely confined to end-of-book appendices. It will appeal to all serious stakeholders in our educational system from parents and school board members to professionals directly connected to our schools and the testing industry.

    Contents: Preface. An Introduction to Cheating: The Wrong and the Short of It. Frequency and Perceptions of Cheating. How to Cheat: A Compendium of Methods. Cheating in Postgraduate and Professional Contexts. Cheating in Other Countries and Cultures. Correlates of Cheating. Detecting Cheating on Tests. Responding to Cheating. Deterring Cheating: An Ounce of Prevention. Legal Issues and Cheating. Cheating and the Ethos of Testing. Appendices: Statistical Methods for Detecting Cheating. Academic Integrity Policy Models. Sample Due Process Policy.

    Biography

    Cizek, Gregory J.

    "Based on a variety of previous studies confirmed by the author, Cizek recommends a well-designed honor code--one that is developed and run by students. Appropriate for undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and practitioners."
    CHOICE

    "In my opinion [Cizek] has succeeded admirably. You will find that this book is both informative and detailed, yet quite readable....it is an excellent reference book. The author has done an impressive job of assembling as complete a list of references on cheating on tests as I have seen. If you are seeking specific information concerning cheating on tests, I would be surprised if you were unable to find it in this informative volume."
    Contemporary Psychology

    "Cizek argues compellingly that the best way to combat cheating lies in preventing it rather than trying to detect it....The cover story for a recent edition of US News and World Report centers on cheating. The research reported in this article--which ciets Cizek--reveals that 75% of college students admit to having cheated at least once, and 84% believe they must cheat to get ahead....Cizek has composed a solid, well-researched, and practical guide to aid instructors and administrators as they confront such stumbling blocks while battling the ever-growing problem of cheating."
    Journal of College Student Development

    "Cizek's book is an excellent source for methods, strategies, and suggestions to detect and prevent cheating....The book reads like a captivating lecture with humorous anecdotal references and quotations. Anyone serious about understanding the phenomenon of cheating will find it informative and beneficial."
    educational HORIZONS

    "The author's writing style lures one into reading the book from start to finish despite abundant facts, figures, and research findings. Although such a flood of information can be tedious to read, that is not the case in this book....Cizek has written a wonderful book that will be an invaluable resource to measurement and assessment professionals, and it is a good starting point for any research study on different aspects of cheating on tests....More important, it is also a good resource for counselors, teachers, parents, and policymakers who want to do their part in alleviating, if not solving, the problem. This book provides a first step. The value of this book is not only in the information it contains but also in the way that it is written and presented. The tone of the book makes the information presented very accessible. Anecdotes and humorous interjections make this book a fun read, something that is uncommon in educational tests and measurement books."

    Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development

    "This book provides a comprehensive and well organized review of a very important and pervasive educational problem. Unfortunately, this problem is one that is often 'swept under the carpet' in a wide range of educational settings. This avoidance may explain why no other book on the subject of cheating on tests has been published. Accordingly, publication of this book represents a milestone in measurement literature and may well generate interest far beyond the measurement community."
    Robert B. Frary
    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University