Journal of Business Ethics Forthcoming WHY DO COLLEGE STUDENTS CHEAT?

ABSTRACT. More is known about the pervasiveness of college cheating than reasons why students cheat. This paper reports the results of a study that applied the theory of reasoned action and partial least squares methodology to analyze the responses of 144 students to a survey on cheating behavior. Approximately 60 % of the business students and 64 % of the non-business students admitted to such behavior. Among cheaters, a “desire to get ahead ” was the most important motivating factor—a surprising result given the comprehensive set of factors tested in the study. Among non-cheaters, the presence of a “moral anchor ” such as an ethical professor was most important. The paper also includes a set of important caveats that might limit this work and suggests some avenues for further study