Descriptive and Experimental Investigations of Writing Self-Beliefs and College Cheating

• In Event: Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Motivation

Abstract

Past literature has shown academic cheating to be linked to negative self-beliefs and task attitudes. The current research extends literature through an investigation of college cheating on writing activities, writing self-beliefs, and effects of topic choice on writing tasks for cheaters and non-cheaters. Study 1 (n = 235) examines relations between past cheating, implicit theories of writing, self-regulatory efficacy for writing, and writing apprehension. Study 2 (n = 91) examines the differential impact of topic choice (no, limited, free) on writing task effort for cheaters and non-cheaters. Results show that cheaters, who tended to hold negative views of writing, placed greater effort on writing tasks when given limited choice whereas non-cheaters placed greater effort when given no constraints at all.

Authors

• Valerie A. Sotardi, The University of Arizona

• Hadley J. Solomon, University of New Hampshire