ROLE OF MORAL DISENGAGEMENT IN CHEATING BEHAVIOR: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF STUDENTS IN THE EDO STATE POST-PRIMARY EDUCATION

Abstract

Over the years, the Nigerian educational ecosystem has witnessed a growing trend of cheating in various educational tests. However, the prevalence, patterns, and correlates of cheating have received significant research attention. It is essential to continue explorations of the psychosocial underlying variables. The present study examined moral disengagement as a factor that could correlate with cheating behavior among students in the post-primary education of Edo State, Nigeria. Two hundred and thirty-seven undergraduates participated in the study. The students were conveniently pooled from different schools in the third term of the 2022/2023 session. They completed self-report measures of the Moral Disengagement and Cheating Behavior Scales. The data were analyzed using a Pearson-moment correlation. The finding revealed a statistically significant, moderate positive correlation between exam anxiety and cheating behavior, r (235) = .44, p < .001. Importantly, moral disengagement explained 12.6% of the variation in cheating behavior. The finding has implications for educational and institutional development.