Academic confidence and psychopathy as factors in academic dishonesty among undergraduates

Abstract

Academic dishonesty (AD) is a serious issue of global concern given its negative impacts on the quality of education, ethics of professional practices and career outcome. There is paucity of studies on its psychosocial and personality correlates in the Nigerian setting. In this study, we examined whether academic confidence (AC) and psychopathy will predict academic dishonesty (AD). Undergraduate students (N =173, males = 89, females = 84, Mean age = 23.32 years) from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, in University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) participated in the study. Measures of the variables were Academic Behaviour Confidence Scale (ABCS), Primary and Secondary Psychopathy Scale (PSPS), and Academic Dishonesty Scale (ADS). Result of hierarchical multiple regression indicated a significant negative prediction of AD by AC (β = -.22, p<.01). Psychopathy positively predicted AD (β = .30, p<.001). The findings were discussed in the light of enhancing academic confidence and behavioural management of psychopathic behaviours among students in order to reduce academic dishonesty.