ERIC Number: EJ1485563
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Dec
Pages: 43
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1570-1727
EISSN: EISSN-1572-8544
Available Date: 2025-07-18
Collegiate Honor Codes and Mandatory Reporting: Have We Gone Too Far?
Toni C. Merhar1; Nathan R. Kuncel1
Journal of Academic Ethics, v23 n4 p2313-2355 2025
Academic dishonesty and counterproductive student behaviors are an ongoing concern in higher education. Over the years, multiple methods to promote student integrity have been proposed, including the use of honor codes. Collegiate honor systems, which make students collectively responsible for campus integrity, are sometimes paired with mandatory reporting policies, which have both advocates and critics. After a broad literature search, a review of 61 publications--ranging from academic journals to university publications and government reports--provided empirical data on college student observation and reporting of misconduct. Two preliminary findings emerged. First, honor code institutions with mandatory reporting policies appear to experience the lowest rates of student reporting--less than 2%--compared to 11% at honor code institutions without such policies, validating concerns about their effectiveness in fostering a culture of peer accountability. However, significant gaps in the data highlight the need for future research directly comparing honor code schools with and without mandatory reporting policies. Second, student responses regarding their willingness to report misconduct are unreliable predictors of actual reporting behavior as evidenced by the large difference in the percentage of students who said they would versus who actually did report misconduct.
Descriptors: College Students, Ethics, Disclosure, Student Responsibility, Integrity, Accountability, Educational Policy, Student Behavior
BioMed Central, Ltd. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://www-springer-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/gp/biomedical-sciences
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1University of Minnesota, Department of Psychology, Minneapolis, USA

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