Ethical Issues In Academic Misconduct And Its Consequences

Academic Misconduct and Ethics

Question:

Discuss about the Ethics or Unethical Course of Action.

Ethics is a course of action that determines right or wrongful doing of an act. An ethical issues can have tremendous impact creating problems (De George, 2011). Thus, it becomes necessary to evaluate a rightful or wrongful act, which can be established as ethical or unethical course of action. Documents falsification is an increasing challenge for businesses, which is a wrongful act leading to unethical behaviour. Such instances have been noted in University students who needs to write assignments, are offering such works to be done by assignment writing services. Such effective writing of an essay or a report for a fee, which later student submits as their own work is a wrongful act and can be established as an ethical misconduct (White, 2013). Student during course of their studies does not follow general ethics.  Ethics are followed to overcome problems in an academic environment. Ethics should be taught and followed by students to recognize the difference between right and wrong. This can lead them to correct preference and in doing of rightful act. The scope of this essay discusses ethical issues and concern in undertaking wrongful act, Mc Donald’s four levels of ethics and consequences of such persons who engages in such wrongful act (Chell, 2016).

Modernisation in terms of internet usage has let students at universities adopt various fraudulent practices, which is unethical. For instance, universities provide them projects, which they instead of self-tasking hire the company for writing their assignment (Darwell, 2008). Sometimes they even borrow from other students, copy them and submit. Ethical concerns has been steadily declining amongst students, who can adopt any measures to achieve high ranking results. Though plagiarism can easily be detected through various sophisticated software, but often student’s borrow work from seniors or peers instead of doing it themselves. Academic dishonesty has been classified into two category, they are plagiarism, which is totally copied task from internet or other sources (Giacalone, 2006).  Secondly, Cheating, which young children does to overcome poor result. Students due to poor knowledge about ethics, use such easy way to complete task. As per academic ethics, students unknowingly use internet source to complete assignment.

Academic groups have recently taken several steps to overcome such unethical conducts amongst students. Students now during academic courses are given special programs by expertise to avoid such practices (Clegg, 2007). Academic experts and authors should find out the reasons behind students adopting such activity. Many reasons are there as to why students go against ethics. They experience pressure at studies and project submission on time. Another reason is competition between students due to which they use shortcuts to make project. Various students are involved in part0time activities or jobs which nearly makes it impossible for them to complete their projects in time ( Virtue ethics. In The Oxford handbook of ethical theory, 2009).

Types of Academic Misconduct

Ethics special seminars being organised by groups to make students aware of unethical practices disadvantages. Faculties should be trained and guided to catch students while cheating. As per Author Howard, plagiarism and cheating are major issue of academic un-ethics. Internet technology is powerful tool used by students as study material and doing project allotted. Not educated in terms of disadvantage of using internet, students use illegal way to overcome challenges of their work (Rossouw, 2013). As per researcher Berry, reason behind student’s tendency to cheat can be demographic, societal and technological or situational factor. Some student possesses basic inclination towards cheating due to lack of time and inclination towards other activities. Discussion on how technological and societal factors force students to follow plagiarism and cheating. Universities and even faculties can stress less on students to punish or guide them for avoiding cheating. Poor culture at academics, engage students to follow un-ethics. Lack of knowledge towards using internet, and poor language understanding results in plagiarism, results in adopting of such standards (Gray, 2009).

Students do mastery in education, sometimes due to family pressure for higher education. Lesser interest of students in studies, make them lean towards cheating and following un-ethical education rules. Discipline at universities towards understanding difference between good and bad is known as ethics. Psychological harassment on students due to pressure of examination and completing projects on time represents un-ethics (Hira, 2006). Representation of task and ideas of some other student from different universities is another form of un-ethics. Faculties should be aware and must focus on students behaving against ethics. Rules and regulation of academic background should be taught in universities. Dealing with this un-authorized practice by students sometimes spoil their career and academic progress and results. Therefore recognizing unethical issues by education department and finding solution to this serious problem. Students should be provided with safe environment (Ferrell, 2015). They should be assured that without cheating and plagiarism one can reach to fantastic academic progress.

There are four levels of ethics in Mc Donald’s business ethics, they are personal issues, stakeholder issues, internal policy issues and societal issues. Adapting ethical standards from Mc Donald’s it can be said that student’s adapting to writing services might lead to personal issues, as they will not gain valued learning. Students come from varied background and expend a lot of money for gaining education (Crane, 2007). Such education needs to be their life-long learning that will allow them to establish their career. However, with no in-depth learning and fake academic write-ups they will lose out on developing their character and knowledge base. The entire program is developed in a manner that can be used to develop skills of the student, any missed endeavor can create tremendous gaps in learning. Secondly, stakeholder issues is bound to arise in case students adapts such practices of academic un-ethics (Ford, 2013). Questions regarding standards of student’s might be later raised as University and its professor is responsible for providing unmatched education. While at job in case a student fails to deliver as per standards then stakeholders as Organisations, University, Professor, Guide and the entire range of stakeholder’s diligence can be questioned. Internal Policy of Organisation catering to such writing services can be questioned as they are providing help to students that form a part of their course work. Student’s needs to conduct report writing as a portion of completion of their tasks and activity, however providing ready-made solution does not help attain to same (Sparks, 2010). Finally, such services creates a societal issue, students who pass their examinations adopting unfair and unethical means cannot make positive contribution to the society in general or at large. Therefore, it can be said that organisations who are providing writing services are adopting unethical means and practices. 

Causes of Academic Misconduct

According to consequentialism in ethics, consequences are the ultimate guide for deciding on ethical rightfulness or wrongfulness. Consequences of adopting to such writing services might be positive in terms of getting high positive marks or landing a good job. However, it does not evaluate the issues pertaining to each level of individuals who finally gets impacted or the society at large for a long term period. According to deontological ethical principles, every action can be judged by its morality of doing an act (McCabe, 2006). Duty is the primary goal of this principle, hence is totally opposed to four aspects of ethics as previously evaluated. In this case, it is the duty of the organisation to cater to student, hence no wrongful act can be justified for the same. Virtue in ethics establishes ethical element of thinking rather than the act. Thus, this approach can still be utilized in justifying ethical misconduct associated with adopting such writing services. Relative perspective cannot be utilized to judge the situation as in this case, it upholds that all individual elements are equally valid and relativism true for them. This principle in case applied cannot help arrive at the ethical perspective for writing services, as this approach adopts relative point of view in regards to every aspect of individualism. Through this approach all acts can be justified while not being able to conclude suitably for any particular deed. While justifying for writing services it can be said that it is an unethical practice that makes student adopt to academic un-ethics. Students are the future hence incorporating in un-ethical values in them can be highly misleading and grave error that cannot be justified. Such unethical practices adopted by students are misleading and can cause severe consequences.   

    

Consequences for a student adopting to unethical practices for fair results in case diagnosed can be multifarious. In cases of plagiarism, the University at first instance might ask the student to change similar contents and re-upload solution (Love, 2012). In grieve cases of plagiarism student can be highly penalized and there can be a disciplinary course of action taken against the student. A student might be asked to write a letter justifying such misconduct and an apology addressed to the Principal at the University. In cases of cheating, a student if found of such misconduct then might be failed or asked to re-appear in such paper. The instructor in such cases can decided a remedial course of action suitable for the student and ask him to comply with the same (Jones, 2010). Any kind of academic ethics diagnosed can have a long term effect on the students career and professional course. A record of such student will be maintained at the University and the student’s final results will indicate any such kinds of misconduct. While applying for jobs post completion of the degree, record of such academic misconduct can deter the student for gaining an appropriate position with responsibility. Hence, it can be identified that consequences of academic misconduct can be long term and have an everlasting effect on the student’s life (Crossan, 2013). Therefore, Universities and faculties need to make a joint endeavor with students such that they can overcome any pertinent challenges in academic ethics and have a good ethical standards at the University.

Preventing Academic Misconduct

Conclusion

Large number of students at Universities adopts unethical codes of conduct due to their ignorance in ethical principles. Universities needs to have shared commitment along with their students towards ethical principles which are essential for fairness of educational purpose and academic enterprise. Occidental College adopts assumption that it is natural for students and faculty to adopt to high ethical standards for academic work. Students are expected to behave in a conscious manner and shall consult instructor whenever he faces any sort of doubts. A student shall also acknowledge an appropriate source and report any sort of suspected misconduct and support any further academic disciplinary hearing. Academic misconduct amongst students can easily be overcome by means of constant mentoring and guidance. An integrated system of instructor with that of student will allow diagnose a student whenever he represents him unfairly. Strict disciplinary course of action can allow a student overcome pertinent challenges faced in academic ethics and gain overall advantage for the student.

References

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