Role of Self Efficacy and Personality in Academic Dishonesty of Undergraduate Students: Implication for Future Careers

Abstract

Various terms describe academic dishonesty, including academic fraud, cheating, and misrepresentation. This paper investigated the forms and prevalence of academic dishonesty among Ghanaian undergraduates students. It also examined how self-efficacy and personality type predict academic fraud within on-campus settings. The study employed a cross-sectional questionnaire-based design, surveying a sample of 453 students. Three scales addressed the hypotheses and research questions. Descriptive statistics (percentages, means, frequencies, standard deviations) were used to answer the research questions, while standard linear regression tested the hypothesis. The results indicated high levels of self-efficacy and conscientiousness among students, yet academic dishonesty was still present. Conscientiousness, openness, and self-efficacy were found to predict academic fraud. One key implication is that such students may carry the negative habits into their future careers. The paper concluded by examining some strategies for mitigating academic dishonesty within the educational context.