HOW TO CHEAT IN ONLINE EXAMS

Sammanfattning: Purpose: The overall focus of the present study is on the relationship between academic dishonesty and information technologies in online higher education. Specifically, the purpose is to explore how digital technologies facilitate and shape academic offenses conducted by university students. Theory: The sociocultural theory of Lev Vygotsky provides the theoretical framework for this thesis. The sociocultural theory situates learning as a social practice mediated by tools and artifacts. Using the sociocultural perspective of learning, this thesis will attempt to explore how digital technologies mediate and afford online cheating. Method: A qualitative approach was followed. Data was collected through an online survey that was shared with online university students, who were asked to describe their experiences with cheating in online exams. Data was analysed via a thematic analysis. Results: The research findings of the thesis point out that online academic cheating seems to be more of a collaborative practice mediated by communication platforms and communication tools. However, the results, also, report technology-mediated individual cheating, which occurs via the use of online tools, as well as by taking advantage of the remote format of the individual exam. In addition, the research findings bring out points for discussion regarding online students’ attitudes towards the use of chosen tools and methods for cheating, while they also discuss how technology has affected students’ awareness of what is allowed to use in an exam and what is not.