Unethical Behaviour in Distance Learning: Polish Student Perspectives

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a transition occurred towards remote learning. This change posed various challenges. One critical issue was the emergence of unethical behaviour. This problem has the potential to detrimentally impact students' learning experiences. Research objectives: The study sets out to explore the array of unethical behaviors encountered by university students in distance learning. Additionally, it seeks to understand the disparity between students’ anticipations and the actual issues they faced. Research design and methods: The research employs a qualitative approach where data were collected from 24 students at the Krakow University of Economics through semi-structured interviews, focusing on their experiences with unethical behaviour. Results: The study unveils that students both anticipate and are apprehensive about occurrences of unethical behaviour in distance learning, including the sharing of inappropriate content. However, their actual experiences encompass different issues, such as unwarranted distractions. These distractions have a detrimental effect on the learning process. Conclusions: The study illuminates the incongruence between students' preconceived notions and their real-life encounters with unethical behaviour during online learning. It emphasizes the importance of promoting engagement and adhering to ethical standards. Furthermore, the study advocates for broadening the research framework to include the perspectives of educators, which is essential for a comprehensive understanding.