Linking Academic Relevance and Achievement Motivation to Students’ Dishonesty. Original Research Brief Report

Abstract

Abstract Academic dishonesty among students is one of the major problems of academia worldwide, hindering the evaluation of educational outcomes and perpetuating harmful habits. The current study focuses on the role of academic relevance as an essential but often overlooked factor in promoting academic integrity. We hypothesized that students' belief in the practical application of their learning and its relevance to future careers would positively correlate with increased mastery motivation, leading to a decreased likelihood of engaging in dishonest behavior. The research sample included 235 students from various Polish universities, ranging in age from 18 to 51, providing a diverse demographic range. The study confirmed that academic relevance negatively predicts academic dishonesty through hierarchical regression and mediation analyses, with mastery motivation as a critical mediating factor. The findings are discussed with an emphasis on their practical implications, particularly in developing effective interventions to reduce academic dishonesty in the educational setting.