Cheating, Pluralistic Ignorance, and the Theory of Normative Social Behavior

Cheating is a common, serious problem in colleges and universities. Prior research seems to suggest that the normative nature of cheating is a key predictor of academic misconduct. The goal of this study was to test the theory of normative social behavior in the context of intentions to cheat. Participants (N=387) completed a survey containing measures of intentions to cheat, descriptive norms, group identity, injunctive norms, and outcome expectancies. The results were supportive of the theory of normative social behavior. Elements of both group identity and injunctive norms interacted with descriptive norms to influence intentions to cheat. Perceptions of positive and negative outcomes, on the other hand, did not produce significant interaction terms with descriptive norms. The study also demonstrated pluralistic ignorance in norms about cheating.