EXAM ANXIETY, ACADEMIC BURNOUT, AND CHEATING BEHAVIOR AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF UNDERGRADUATES IN ENUGU STATE

Authors

  • Ihekweme Nkechi Cynthia Department of Social Studies Federal College of Education, Eha Amufu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53555/nnssh.v8i5.1267

Abstract

The current study examined whether exam anxiety and academic burnout would predict the variation in students' cheating behavior. It was expected that exam anxiety and academic burnout would significantly contribute to the variations in cheating behavior. Participants were 233 undergraduates enrolled in public tertiary institutions in Enugu State, Nigeria. They completed a self-report measure of cheating behavior, the cognitive test anxiety scale, and the academic burnout scale. A cross-sectional design was employed in the study. Data from the respondents were analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS, Version 23). Multiple regression was performed to test the main hypotheses that exam anxiety and academic burnout would predict cheating behavior. The analysis showed that exam anxiety and academic burnout statistically significantly predicted cheating behavior, F (2, 231) = 31.25, p < 0.05. All two variables added statistically significantly to the prediction, p < .05. The result indicates that the predictor variables contributed 13.4% of the variance in the attitude towards statistics. The result has implications for academic integrity and provides crucial data for research.

References

Adebayo, S. O. (2011). Common cheating behavior among Nigerian university students: a case study of university of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. World Journal of Education, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.5430/wje.v1n1p144

Alarape, A. I., & Onakoya, A. . (2003). Correlates examination cheating behavior among university students. IFE PsychologIA, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.4314/ifep.v11i1.23441

Aldossari, M., & Chaudhry, S. (2021). Women and burnout in the context of a pandemic. Gender, Work and Organization, 28(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12567

Anderman, E. M., Cupp, P. K., & Lane, D. (2009). Impulsivity and academic cheating. Journal of Experimental Education, 78(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/00220970903224636

Aydin, U. (2019). Test anxiety: Gender differences in elementary school students. European Journal of Educational Research, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.8.1.21

Azzahroh, F., Fajri, R. N., & Suhendro. (2020). The effect of self-efficacy and fraud diamond on fraudulent behavior in academic accounting students. Journal of Business, Management, and Accounting, 2(1).

Bassey, B., & Iruoje, J. (2017). Test anxiety, attitude to schooling, parental influence, and peer pressure as predictors of students cheating tendencies in examination in Edo State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Social Sciences, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.4314/gjss.v15i1.4

Behroozi, N., Rafiee, Z., & Haji Yakhchali, A. (2017). Personality characteristics, sensation-seeking, locus of control, and exam anxiety are predictors of exam cheating among high school students in Ahvaz City. Iranian Evolutionary Educational Psychology Journal, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.21859/ieepj-01014

Bisong, N. N., Akpama, F., & Edet, P. B. (2009). The cheating tendency in examinations among secondary school students in Nigeria: A case study of schools in the Odukpani local government area, Cross River State. Policy Futures in Education, 7(4). https://doi.org/10.2304/pfie.2009.7.4.410

Cassady, J. C., & Johnson, R. E. (2002). Cognitive test anxiety and academic performance. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 27(2). https://doi.org/10.1006/ceps.2001.1094

Chairilsyah, D. (2020). Cheating on elementary school students. Primary: Jurnal Pendidikan Guru Sekolah Dasar, 9(6). https://doi.org/10.33578/jpfkip.v9i6.8090

Chala, W. D. (2021). Perceived seriousness of academic cheating behaviors among undergraduate students: an Ethiopian experience. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-020-00069-z

Chang, E., Lee, A., Byeon, E., Seong, H., & Lee, S. M. (2016). The mediating effect of motivational types in the relationship between perfectionism and academic burnout. Personality and Individual Differences, 89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.10.010

Davis, S. F., Drinan, P. F., & Gallant, T. B. (2009). Cheating in school: What we know and what we can do. In Cheating in School: What We Know and What We Can Do. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444310252

Diego, L. A. B. (2017). Friends with benefits: Causes and effects of learners' cheating practices during the examination. IAFOR Journal of Education, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.22492/ije.5.2.06

Dubale, B. W., Friedman, L. E., Chemali, Z., Denninger, J. W., Mehta, D. H., Alem, A., Fricchione, G. L., Dossett, M. L., & Gelaye, B. (2019). A systematic review of burnout among healthcare providers in sub-Saharan Africa. In BMC Public Health (Vol. 19, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7566-7

Evans, E. D., & Craig, D. (1990). Adolescent cognitions for academic cheating as a function of grade level and achievement status. Journal of Adolescent Research, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/074355489053005

Farnese, M. L., Tramontano, C., Fida, R., & Paciello, M. (2011). Cheating behaviors in an academic context: Does academic, moral disengagement matter? Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.11.250

Fernate, A., & Smila, B. (2020). Pre-service sports specialists' perceptions of academic integrity. Society, integration, and education. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference, 6. https://doi.org/10.17770/sie2020vol6.5134

Gbenro Balogun, A., & Sulaiman Olanrewaju, A. (2016). Research articles role of computer self-efficacy and gender in computer-based test anxiety among undergraduates in Nigeria. Psychological Thought, 9(1), 58–66. https://doi.org/10.5964/psyct.v9i1.160

Hammoudi, A., & Benzerroug, S. (2021). Cheating on exams: Dishonest or justifiable behavior? International Journal of English Language Studies, 3(4). https://doi.org/10.32996/ijels.2021.3.3.7

Harding, T. S. (2001). On the frequency and causes of academic dishonesty among engineering students. ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--9621

Harrison, D., Patch, A., McNally, D., & Harris, L. (2021). Student and faculty perceptions of study helper websites: a new practice in collaborative cheating. Journal of Academic Ethics, 19(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10805-020-09373-2

Ifeoma, I. R., Uzoma, I. C., & Christian, U. C. (2019). Factors influencing examination cheating behaviors by consumers of post-primary education in Enugu, Nigeria. International Journal of Marketing Research Innovation, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.46281/ijmri.v3i1.335

Jackson, C. J., Levine, S. Z., Furnham, A., & Burr, N. (2002). Predictors of cheating behavior at a university: A lesson from the psychology of work. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2002.tb00254.x

Kam, C. C. S., Hue, M. T., & Cheung, H. Y. (2018). Academic dishonesty among Hong Kong secondary school students: application of the theory of planned behavior. Educational Psychology, 38(7). https://doi.org/10.1080/01443410.2018.1454588

Karimah, H., & Khairani. (2020). The relationship of self-efficacy with cheating behavior and implications for guidance and counseling services. Jurnal Neo Konseling, 2(3).

Karimi, Y., Bashirpur, M., Khabbaz, M., & Hedayati, A. A. (2014). Comparison between perfectionism and social support dimensions and academic burnout in students. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.12.328

Khasne, R. W., Dhakulkar, B. S., Mahajan, H. C., & Kulkarni, A. P. (2020). Burnout among healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in India: Results of a questionnaire-based survey. Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, 24(8). https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23518

Kim, B., Jee, S., Lee, J., An, S., & Lee, S. M. (2018). Relationships between social support and student burnout: A meta-analytic approach. Stress and Health, 34(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2771

Koc, S., & Memduhoglu, H. B. (2020). A model test for university students' cheating behavior in the context of the theory of planned behavior. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.18844/cjes.v15i4.5056

Koutsimani, P., Montgomery, A., & Georganta, K. (2019). The relationship between burnout, depression, and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. In Frontiers in Psychology (Vol. 10, Issue MAR). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00284

Krispenz, A., Gort, C., Schültke, L., & Dickhäuser, O. (2019). How to reduce test anxiety and academic procrastination through inquiry of cognitive appraisals: A pilot study investigating the role of academic self-efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(AUG). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01917

Kwon, J. H., Hong, N., Kim, K., Heo, J., Kim, J. J., & Kim, E. (2020). Feasibility of a virtual reality program in managing test anxiety: a pilot study. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 23(10). https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2019.0651

Ledesma, R. G. (2011). Academic dishonesty among undergraduate students in a Korean University. Research in World Economy, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.5430/rwe.v2n2p25

Lestari, I., & Mutiah, D. (2020). The Influence of Self-Regulated Learning, Goal Orientation, and Demographic Variables on Jakarta 41 States Vocational High School Students' Cheating Behavior. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200220.004

Li, T., & Zhou, Y. (2019). Do pay-for-grades programs encourage student academic cheating? Evidence from a randomized experiment. Frontiers of Education in China, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11516-019-0005-9

Lian, R., Yang, L., & Wu, L. (2005). Relationship between Professional Commitment and Learning Burnout of Undergraduates and Scales Developing. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 37(5).

Lin, S. H., & Huang, Y. C. (2014). Life stress and academic burnout. Active Learning in Higher Education, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787413514651

Lotz, C., & Sparfeldt, J. R. (2017). Does test anxiety increase as the exam draws near? – Students' state test anxiety was recorded over one semester. Personality and Individual Differences, 104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.08.032

Lucifora, C., & Tonello, M. (2015). Cheating and social interactions. Evidence from a randomized experiment in a national evaluation program. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2014.12.006

Maggioni, M. A., & Rossignoli, D. (2020). Clever little lies: Math performance and cheating in primary schools in Congo. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2019.12.021

Malesky, A., Grist, C., Poovey, K., & Dennis, N. (2022). The effects of peer influence, honor codes, and personality traits on cheating behavior in a University Setting. Ethics and Behavior, 32(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2020.1869006

Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: Recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311

Mavilidi, M. F., Ouwehand, K., Riley, N., Chandler, P., & Paas, F. (2020). Effects of an acute physical activity break on test anxiety and math test performance. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051523

McCabe, D. L., Butterfield, K. D., & Treviño, L. K. (2006). Academic dishonesty in graduate business programs: Prevalence, causes, and proposed action. In Academy of Management Learning and Education (Vol. 5, Issue 3). https://doi.org/10.5465/AMLE.2006.22697018

Mih, C., & Mih, V. (2016). Fear of failure, disaffection, and procrastination as mediators between controlled motivation and academic cheating. Cognitie, Creier, Comportament, 20(2).

Nora, W. L. Y., & Zhang, K. C. (2010). Motives of cheating among secondary students: The role of self-efficacy and peer influence. Asia Pacific Education Review, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-010-9104-2

Nwosu, K. C., Nwasor, V. C., Onyebuchi, G. C., & Nwanguma, V. C. (2020). Understanding adolescents' moral stance on examination malpractice through the lenses of parenting styles, test anxiety, and their academic self-efficacy. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology, 18(51). https://doi.org/10.25115/EJREP.V18I51.3014

Ojwan'g, M. A. (2019). Demographics of students' perspectives on examination cheating in primary education in Kenya. Frontiers in Education Technology, 2(4). https://doi.org/10.22158/fet.v2n4p225

Pyhältö, K., Pietarinen, J., Haverinen, K., Tikkanen, L., & Soini, T. (2021). Teacher burnout profiles and proactive strategies. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 36(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-020-00465-6

Rehman, R. R., & Waheed, A. (2013). Ethical perception of university students: Study of academic dishonesty in Pakistan. Middle East Journal of Scientific Research, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2013.13.1.1520

Riabchenko, V. (2021). Corporate and academic dishonesty is a problem of the university's social responsibility. Continuing Professional Education: Theory and Practice. https://doi.org/10.28925/1609-8595.2021.2.2

Roos, A. L., Goetz, T., Voracek, M., Krannich, M., Bieg, M., Jarrell, A., & Pekrun, R. (2020). Test Anxiety and Physiological Arousal: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. In Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09543-z

Shadach, E., Levy-Frank, I., Levy, S., Amitai, T., & Shadach, E. (2017). Preparatory test anxiety: Cognitive, emotionality, and behavior components. Studia Psychologica, 59(4). https://doi.org/10.21909/sp.2017.04.747

Simon, C. A., Carr, J. R., McCullough, S. M., Morgan, S. J., Oleson, T., & Ressel, M. (2004). Gender, student perceptions, institutional commitments, and academic dishonesty: Who reports in academic dishonesty cases? Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/0260293032000158171

Smith, K. J., Davy, J. A., & Easterling, D. (2004). An examination of cheating and its antecedents among marketing and management majors. Journal of Business Ethics, 50(1). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BUSI.0000020876.72462.3f

Šorgo, A., Vavdi, M., Cigler, U., & Kralj, M. (2015). Opportunity makes the cheater: High school students and academic dishonesty. Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.26529/cepsj.117

Valdivia, V. E. R., Goycochea, H. A. B., & Davila, F. A. D. (2020). Factors associated with academic dishonesty in Peruvian engineering students. Proceedings of the 2020 IEEE International Symposium on Accreditation of Engineering and Computing Education, ICACIT 2020. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICACIT50253.2020.9277689

Vanstone, D. M., & Hicks, R. E. (2019). Transitioning to university: Coping styles as mediators between adaptive-maladaptive perfectionism and test anxiety. Personality and Individual Differences, 141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.12.026

Wenzel, K., & Reinhard, M. A. (2020). Tests and academic cheating: do learning tasks influence cheating through negative evaluations? Social Psychology of Education, 23(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-020-09556-0

Zhang, X., & Qin, J. (2020). Empirical analysis of the alleviation effect of music on test anxiety of college students. Revista Argentina de Clinica Psicologica, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.24205/03276716.2020.45

Downloads

Published

2022-06-09

How to Cite

Cynthia, I. N. . (2022). EXAM ANXIETY, ACADEMIC BURNOUT, AND CHEATING BEHAVIOR AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF UNDERGRADUATES IN ENUGU STATE. Journal of Advance Research in Social Science and Humanities (ISSN 2208-2387), 8(5), 11-16. https://doi.org/10.53555/nnssh.v8i5.1267