16 replies to this topic

[Sgt Harbinger]

Okay, well time to spice up this forum again with yet another discussion topic. This time, we are going to talk about why people cheat in school or in college, on tests, assignments, etc. So...why do people do it? Is it because they are lazy? Is it because they just simply...don't care? What are some students' motives behind cheating?

Edited by Sgt Harbinger, 08 December 2011 - 09:01 PM.

[Hogwarts Lover]

because they don't want to memorize anything,They are lazy!and some of them enjoy cheating because it's a hobby for them!

[sarahelizabeth]

Laziness!! they think they aren't smart enough they never study so by trying to get good grades they will copy off of others!! and then sometimes that person is alwyas wrong

[Tom™]

Taking advantage of useful resources that are available at the given time if need be

[Monkey Cartwheels]

The things I cheated on where because I didn't care enough about the subjects I was doing and I knew that wouldn't benefit my career in anyway.
For example. When I still had 3 years left of school (10 grade I think?) I was set on becoming a camera operator and working in the TV and Film industry, and the Film school I wanted to get into required no High School qualifications. So when I had to do things like math or something similar, I didn't want to do them because I didn't need them...

[mischief.managed]

Although I don't cheat on tests and quizzes anymore, I did simply because I didn't know the material. Now if I don't know something, I just don't fill the answer in because I don't want to look stupid putting in the wrong thing :/ I know that in itself is pathetic, but I can't help it.

[Arie]

I think it's just basic laziness. People don't want to dedicate time to school work, they just want to magically get good grades. They rather go out and party. So many people have been offering me money to write essays for them and do their work. They rather go out and get pissed then actually do something that will benefite them in life.

[Carlyn]

I agree with the others and I also think people cheat because they are insecure. They might have a lot of pressure to get really good grades so they just want a little back up. It's not just slackers who cheat.

[Will]

Because they have no morals !¡(some of them, not everyone who do that), I'd rather to let the test in blank than cheating.

[mischief.managed]

I think it's just basic laziness. People don't want to dedicate time to school work, they just want to magically get good grades. They rather go out and party. So many people have been offering me money to write essays for them and do their work. They rather go out and get pissed then actually do something that will benefite them in life.

I'm guilty of cheating on tests, but I'm not at all like this :/

Sometimes you just forget material or didn't study enough on some points. We're not all stupid with no morals.

Edited by mischief.managed, 09 December 2011 - 02:33 AM.

[relevancy]

I think it may be a result of not studying enough to feel prepared therefore feeling the need to have to cheat in order to get a good mark.

[Arie]

I'm guilty of cheating on tests, but I'm not at all like this :/

Sometimes you just forget material or didn't study enough on some points. We're not all stupid with no morals.

I didn't say everyone in the world who cheats is like this. I am just talking the people who I have to deal with in my uni. That's what pretty much all of them are like.

I also didn't ever write that you are stupid or have no morals... how did you get that from my post?

[mischief.managed]

^ Other people implied it, that's kind of why I started a new line.

[Imagine]

Never cheated, because i want to be able to work hard for something and say "I worked hard for that grade all on my own" and not have the stigma at the back of my mind knowing i did not earn it.

People cheat for a variety of reasons - they dont think they are good enough, lazy, no motivation to study, socialising more than studying, poor time management etc.

[Jade]

I have never cheated myself. In my opinion though other people cheat due to low self esteem. I also agree with Andrea, there are many reasons.

[Mia]

Laziness to study and a strong will to pass the exams.That's auwfully greedy isnt it?!

[Nike]

Okay, I want to address some things here.

1. Incentives
B>C, where benefit exceeds cost. Benefits can include an assortment of things, from getting that grade to pleasing parents to finding an easy way out, et cetera, et cetera. Costs can include an assortment of things as well, such as loss of money to a fellow student, et cetera, et cetera. Of course, we've all heard of cases where people thought B>C, but got caught and found the consequences led them to solving that little equation and differently in the future... and cases where people have been caught and improved their methods of cheating.

2. Partying
I went to one of the biggest party schools in the United States (universities - we more than cracked the top twenty) and that didn't typically have anything to do with it. People fit partying into their lifestyles. I've heard that fraternities will pass around answers to common tests, though.

3. Skills
It's hard to say this, but quite honestly, not everybody is acing the SATs or the ACT or whatever standardized test your country may have for high school students (your O.W.L.s ), and the reasoning behind this is varied, but in a way it can be a reflection of gaps in learning that were never filled. As we move into the future, I see websites like Khan Academy making education more universal, reaching more students than the traditional classroom reaches now.

Edited by luckystar118, 23 August 2012 - 08:48 AM.