Academic dishonesty in North America: what do we know and what can we do about it?

This paper presents an extensive examination of the past findings and contributions made by scholars in the area of academic dishonesty in North American post secondary institutions. The purpose of this major paper is to provide an understanding of what scholars have come to know about the nature and quantity of academic dishonesty and how to best respond to this behaviour. The paper begins by outlining the challenges with defining academic dishonesty and what is understood about its prevalence. The paper then explores the common characteristics of those who engage in academic dishonesty, why students choose to engage in this type of deviant behavior, and what factors contribute to academic dishonesty. The role of technology is also considered to understand its role in the evolution of academic dishonesty. Based on these findings, the major paper concludes by offering policy recommendations that could provide a framework for addressing this form of deviance in academia.