Exploring Academic Misconduct in Graduate Students Using the Theory of Planned Behavior

Authors

  • Yong Zuo Industry-University-Research Cooperation Office, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China; Jiangsu University Research Institute of Engineering Technology, Zhenjiang, China Author
  • Peng Jing School of Automotive and Transportation Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China Author
  • Huiqian Sun School of Automotive and Transportation Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70088/2y59f143

Keywords:

the theory of planned behavior, graduate student, academic misconduct

Abstract

The paper examined the utility of the theory of planned behavior for predicting graduate students' behavior of academic misconduct including fabrication, falsification and plagiarism. The models based on the theory of planned behavior proposed that graduate students' intention to engage in academic misconduct behavior might be influenced by attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavior control and moral obligation. A sample of 91 graduate students completed an online survey. With the exception of moral obligation, we found that attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavior control have significant impact on the graduate students' intention to perform academic misconduct behaviors in the form of fabrication, falsification and plagiarism. The results have given further support to the use of the extended version of the theory of planned behavior.

References

J. Y. Deng and Q. J. Lan, "A Game Model of Integrity Between Consumers and Real Estate Developers in Building Energy Conservation Supervision System," Journal of Hunan University (Social Sciences), no. 3, pp. 66–69, 2014.

Y. Zhou and L. Li, "Traditional Chinese Doctor-Patient Integrity Models and Their Contemporary Value," Journal of Hunan University (Social Sciences), vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 116–120, 2014.

D. D. Carpenter, T. S. Harding, and C. J. Finelli et al., "Does Academic Dishonesty Relate to Unethical Behavior in Professional Practice? An Exploratory Study," Science and Engineering Ethics, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 311–324, 2004.

L. A. A. Chudzicka-Czupa, "Psychological and Moral Determinants in Accepting Cheating and Plagiarism Among University Students in Poland," Polish Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 75–98, 2014.

Z. B. Liu and C. Q. Kong, "Grey Relational Analysis of Influencing Factors of Graduate Students' Academic Integrity Crisis," Chinese Journal of Higher Education Research, no. 2, pp. 33–35, 2008.

Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, National Health and Medical Research Council, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, 2007.

Z. Zheng and Z. M. Zheng, "An Analysis of Graduate Students' Academic Moral Anomie and Standardization Strategies," Journal of Beijing Institute of Technology (Social Sciences Edition), vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 115–117, 2006.

Downloads

Published

14 September 2026

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 4 (2026)

Section

Article

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Yong Zuo, Peng Jing, Huiqian Sun (Author)

Creative Commons License

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

How to Cite

Zuo, Y., Jing, P., & Sun, H. (2026). Exploring Academic Misconduct in Graduate Students Using the Theory of Planned Behavior. International Journal of Law, Ethics and Social Sciences, 3(4), 12-19. https://doi.org/10.70088/2y59f143