The digital facilitator
A multivariate analysis of predictors of academic cheating
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/nq9swx67Keywords:
Academic cheating, Digital technology, Neutralization, TPB, SATAbstract
The pervasive issue of academic dishonesty in higher education is exacerbated by evolving digital technologies. This study empirically investigates the relative and hierarchical predictive power of institutional, personal, social, and digital factors on the frequency of cheating behavior among university students. A cross-sectional survey design was employed with a sample of 1,120 students. Data were analyzed using bivariate correlations and a five-step hierarchical regression analysis. Rigorous diagnostic checks were conducted to validate the model. Bivariate correlations revealed significant relationships between all the predictors and cheating, with the digital factor showing the strongest association (r = .570). The final regression model explained 41.2% of the variance in cheating behavior.
References
Abubakar, U., Falade, A. A., & Ibrahim, H. A. (2024). Redefining student assessment in Nigerian
tertiary institutions: The impact of AI technologies on academic performance and developing counter measures, Advances in Mobile Learning Educational Research, 4(2), 1149-1159. https://doi.org/10.25082/AMLER.2024.02.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25082/AMLER.2024.02.009
Adiyono, A., Suwartono, T., Nurhayati, S., Dalimarta, F. F., & Wijayanti, O. (2025). Impact of
artificial intelligence on student reliance for exam answers: A case study in IRCT Indonesia. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 24(3), 519–544. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.24.3.22 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.24.3.22
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
Processes, 50(2), 179–211.
Anitha ,P., & Sundaram, S. (2022). Experimental investigation of cheating behavior and
qualitative analysis of antecedents of academic dishonesty among school students, Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6(6), 2506-2515
Alcalde-Fradejas N, Marzo-Navarro M and Ramírez-Alesón M (2024) Faculty versus students:
different perceptions of misconducts at university. Front. Psychol. 15:1348057. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1348057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1348057
Aluko, H., Offiah, G., Aluko, A., Ogunjimi, F., Aluko, A., Alalade, F., Ukeje, I.O, Nwani, C.
(2025). Exploring the effectiveness of AI-generated learning materials in facilitating active learning strategies and knowledge retention in higher education. International Journal of Organizational Analysis. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-07-2024-4632 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-07-2024-4632
Aravantinos, S., Lavidas, K., Voulgari, I., Papadakis, S., Karalis, T., & Komis, V. (2024).
Educational Approaches with AI in Primary School Settings: A Systematic Review of the Literature Available in Scopus. Education Sciences, 14(7), 744. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14070744 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14070744
Arowolo-Ayodeji, A. (2025). The Role of AI and blockchain in combating academic fraud World,
Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 25(02), 1341-1357
Azemi, A., Azhar, S.M.F. & Jamaludin, N.A. (2024). Academic dishonesty in higher education:
A bibliometric analysis. International Journal of Religion, 5(7), 1094 – 1103
Balogun, O. (2023). The role of AI in academic integrity: Challenges and solutions in the
Nigerian context. Journal of African Educational Technology, 19(2), 45-60.
Benke E., & Szőke A. (2024). academic integrity in the time of artificial intelligence: exploring
student attitudes, Italian Journal of Sociology of Education, 16(2), 91-108.
DOI: 10.14658/PUPJ-IJSE-2024-2-5
Chala, W.D. (2021). Perceived seriousness of academic cheating behaviors among undergraduate
students: an Ethiopian experience. 17(2) International Journal for Educational Integrity https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-020-00069-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-020-00069-z
Elkhatat, A. M., Elsaid, K., & Almeer, S. (2023). Evaluating the efficacy of AI content detection
tools in differentiating between human and AI-generated text. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-023-00140-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40979-023-00140-5
Eneji, C.O., Petters,J.S., Stella Bassey Esuabana ,S.B., Onnoghen, N.U., Udumo, B.O.,
Ambe, B.A., Gregory, J.L. 2020. COVID-19 elevating the problem of plagiarism: the implied social contract of academic integrity. Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 87(1): 18-23..
Heriyati, D., & Ekasari, W. F. (2020). A Study on academic dishonesty and moral reasoning,
Indonesian Journal of Education, 12(2), 56-62. doi: 10.17509/ije.v12i2.18653. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/ije.v12i2.18653
Izevbigie, H.I., Olajide, O., Olaniran, O. & Akintayo, T.A. (2025). The ethical use of generative
AI in the Nigerian higher education sector, World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 25(03), 847-853
Lavidas, K., Voulgari, I., Papadakis, S., Athanassopoulos, S., Anastasiou, A., Filippidi, A.,
Komis, V., & Karacapilidis, N. (2024). Determinants of humanities and social sciences students’ intentions to use artificial intelligence applications for academic purposes. Information, 15(6), 314. https://doi.org/10.3390/info15060314 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/info15060314
Liu, H., Azam, M., Bin., S., & Faiola, A. (2023). An overview of the capabilities of ChatGPT for
medical writing and its implications for academic integrity. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 40(4), 440–446. https://doi.org/10.1111/ hir.12509
Marais, I.E., (2022). Institutionalisation of academic integrity: Experiences at a distance education
university in South Africa during COVID-19. Cristal, (10), 2 DOI: 10.14426/cristal. v10i2.585 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14426/cristal
Mireku, D. O., Dzamesi, P. D., & Bervell, B. (2024). Plagiarism in Higher Education (PLAGiHE)
within Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of a decade (2012–2022) literature, Research Ethics, 20(2), 156-186 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17470161231189646
Mukasa, J., Stokes, L., & Mukona, D. M. (2023). Academic dishonesty by students of bioethics at
a tertiary institution in Australia: An exploratory study. International Journal for Educational Integrity, 19(1), 1-15.
Hasanein, A. M., & Sobaih, A. E. E. (2023). Drivers and consequences of ChatGPT use in higher
education: Key stakeholder perspectives. European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education, 13(11), 2599-2614. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/ejihpe13110181
Ndungu, N.J. & Chepsergon, K. A. (2024). Dual role of AI in academic dishonesty and integrity
management in the institutions of higher learning in Sub-Saharan Africa, Journal of Research in Education and Technology, 2(1) 69-79
Olawale, M., & Ologunde, O. (2022). Ghostwriting in the age of AI: Ethical concerns for
Nigerian higher education. Journal of African Educational Policy, 27(1), 58-72.
Olawole, A. O., Olugbemi, O., Ayodele, O. J. (2025). An investigation of academic dishonesty
among undergraduate students in Federal University, Oye -Ekiti, Nigeria. Unizik Journal of Educational Research and Policy Studies,19 (1), 268-276
Orok E, Okaramee C, Egboro B, Egbochukwu E, Bello K, Etukudo S, Ogologo MS, Onyeka P,
Etukokwu O, Kolawole M, Orire A, Ekada I, Akawa O. (2024). Pharmacy students' perception and knowledge of chat-based artificial intelligence tools at a Nigerian University. BMC Med Educ, 31,24(1):1237. doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-06255-8. PMID: 39482671; PMCID: PMC11526711. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06255-8
Osang, O. G., Idiong, S.P., & Akanimoh, M.E. (2025). Unethical issues in the use of artificial
intelligence (AI) among undergraduates in public universities of Cross River State, Nigeria Journal of Humanities and Social Policy, 11(5), 136-146
Rifani, E., Sugiyo, S., & Purwanto, E. (2021). The Mediation Effect of Moral Disengagement on
Spiritual- Religious Attitudes and Academic Dishonesty among Guidance and Counseling Students. Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.25217/igcj.v4i1.1147 E-ISSN: 2614-1566 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25217/igcj.v4i1.1147
Roe, J., Renandya, W. A., & Jacobs, G. M. (2023). A review of ai-powered writing tools and their
implications for academic integrity in the language classroom. Journal of English and Applied Linguistics, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.59588/2961-3094.1035 DOI: https://doi.org/10.59588/2961-3094.1035
Sağın, F. G., Özkaya, A. B., Tengiz, F., Geyik, Ö. G., & Geyik, C. (2023). Current evaluation and
recommendations for the use of artificial intelligence tools in education. Türk Biyokimya Dergisi, 48(6), 620–625. https://doi.org/10.1515/tjb-2023-0254 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/tjb-2023-0254
Salinas-Navarro, D. E., Vilalta-Perdomo, E., Michel-Villarreal, R., & Montesinos, L. (2024).
Using Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools to Explain and Enhance Experiential Learning for Authentic Assessment. Education Sciences, 14(1), 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14010083 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14010083
Sarwari, A. Q., & Mohd, A. H. (2024). The effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) on daily
educational activities of undergraduates in a modern and diversified university environment. Advances in Mobile Learning Educational Research, 4(1), 927–930. https://doi.org/10.25082/amler.2024.01.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25082/AMLER.2024.01.004
Sefcik, L., Striepe, M., & Yorke, J. (2019). Mapping the landscape of academic integrity
education programs: what approaches are effective? Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 45(1), 30–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2019.1604942 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2019.1604942
Shadare, A., & Abubakar, M. (2022). Student adoption of AI technologies: Implications for
academic integrity in Nigerian universities. Journal of Nigerian Studies in Education, 31(1), 95-110.
Sozon, M., Mohammad Alkharabsheh O.H., Fong, P.W.& Chuan, S.B. (2024). Cheating and
plagiarism in higher education institutions (HEIs): A literature review F1000, Research, 13,788 https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.147140.2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.147140.1
Sun, R., Tang, M., Zhou, J., Loan, N.T.T. & Wang, C.Y. (2025) The dark tetrad as associated
factors in generative AI academic misconduct: insights beyond personal attribute variables. Front. Educ. 10:1551721. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2025.1551721 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1551721
Sykes, G. M., & Matza, D. (1957). Techniques of neutralization: A theory of delinquency. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2089195
American Sociological Review, 22(6), 664–670.
Thomas, D. (2020). Academic dishonesty, religious fundamentalism, among students at a religious DOI: https://doi.org/10.63201/TGIN4155
university, International Forum Journal, 23(1): 126–138.
Ukeje, I. O., Elom, C. O., Ayanwale, M. A., Umoke, C. C., & Nwangbo, S. O. (2025). Exploring
an innovative educational governance framework: Leveraging artificial intelligence in a stakeholder-driven “open campus model” in South East Nigerian universities. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 23(6), 416–440. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.6.19 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.6.19
Wikström, P. O. H. (2004). Crime as alternative: Towards a cross-level situational action theory
of crime causation. In J. McCord (Ed.), Beyond empiricism: Institutions and intentions in the study of crime (pp. 1–37). Transaction.
Wikström, P. O. H. (2010). Explaining crime as moral actions. In S. Hitlin & S. Vaisey (Eds.), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6896-8_12
Handbook of the sociology of morality (pp. 211–239). Springer.
Yavich, R.; Davidovitch, N. (2024). Plagiarism among Higher Education Students. Educ. Sci, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14080908
14, 908. https://doi.org/10.3390/ educsci14080908
Zhai, C., Wibowo, S., & Li, L. D. (2024). The effects of over-reliance on AI dialogue systems on
students’ cognitive abilities: a systematic review. Smart Learning Environments, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00316-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-024-00316-7
Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Abel Ebiega Enokela, Caroline Ochuko Alordiah, Oyaziwo Omon Aluede

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.




