Date Presented

Spring 4-15-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Criminology

First Advisor

Ei Hlaing, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Michael Klein, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Ed DeClair, Ph.D.

Abstract

Violations of academic honor are relative to many of the same factors that lead to dishonesty by individuals subject to the criminal justice system. Malingering is defined as the feigning of psychological or physical ailment for gain, which is a technique regularly used to exploit both academic institutions and the U.S. court system. While malingering in legal environments is generally to receive less harsh sentencing, access to drugs, or other benefits, the aim of faking illness in students is to avoid consequences for missing required classes or examinations. The purpose of this research is to identify the relationship between “faking-bad” symptoms, dishonesty, impulsivity, and personality traits, with the aim of identifying and preventing the abuse of the system caused by malingering in the future. This study was conducted at a small, private university using a self-report survey method to determine predictors of malingering in undergraduate students. Results found that academic dishonesty was positively correlated with moral disengagement, and negatively correlated with impulsiveness, honesty-humility, and conscientiousness.

Download

Share

COinS