Academic misconduct and neutralization technique among college students in a Private University

Abstract

This study investigated the academic misconduct and neutralization techniques among college students of a private university for the academic year 2023-2024. The variables of the study were sex and involvement in extracurricular activity as the independent variables, and academic misconduct and neutralization techniques as the dependent variables. The researchers utilized a descriptive-correlational research design. Descriptive statistics used frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation while inferential statistics used Pearson r correlation set at 0.01 level of significance. The researchers employed online and face-to-face validated questionnaires, comprising three parts: 1) socio-demographic profile questions; 2) academic misconduct-specific behavior; and 3) neutralization techniques. The results revealed that college students have a very low level of academic misconduct (M=1.74) and a low level of neutralization techniques (M=2.26). When grouped according to sex, Males yielded a higher level of academic misconduct and neutralization techniques (M=1.92 & M=2.33) than females (M=1.68 & M=2.23). When grouped according to involvement in extracurricular activities, sports activity yielded a higher level across categories in academic misconduct and neutralization techniques (M=2.01 & M=2.38). Moreover, among the dimensions of academic misconduct, plagiarism ranked the highest (M=1.96) while among the dimensions of neutralization techniques, "Denial of Victim" came in first (M=2.42). A moderate positive correlation was found between academic misconduct and the practice of neutralization techniques (r=.481**) which indicated that an increase in academic misconduct was associated with an increase with neutralization techniques. It could be concluded that college students foster ethical and moral academic character in a private religious university.