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Understanding the Interplay Among Regulatory Self-Efficacy, Moral Disengagement, and Academic Cheating Behaviour During Vocational Education: A Three-Wave Study

Author

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  • Roberta Fida

    (University of East Anglia
    Sapienza University of Rome)

  • Carlo Tramontano

    (Coventry University)

  • Marinella Paciello

    (Uninettuno Telematic International University)

  • Valerio Ghezzi

    (Sapienza University of Rome)

  • Claudio Barbaranelli

    (Sapienza University of Rome)

Abstract

The literature has suggested that to understand the diffusion of unethical conduct in the workplace, it is important to investigate the underlying processes sustaining engagement in misbehaviour and to study what occurs during vocational education. Drawing on social-cognitive theory, in this study, we longitudinally examined the role of two opposite dimensions of the self-regulatory moral system, regulatory self-efficacy and moral disengagement, in influencing academic cheating behaviour. In addition, in line with the theories highlighting the bidirectional relationship between cognitive processes and behaviour, we aimed to also examine the reciprocal influence of behaviour on these dimensions over time. Overall, no previous studies have examined the longitudinal interplay between these variables. The sample included 866 (62.8% female) nursing students who were assessed three times annually from the beginning of their vocational education. The findings from a cross-lagged model confirmed that regulatory self-efficacy and moral disengagement have opposite influences on cheating behaviour, that regulatory self-efficacy negatively influences not only the engagement in misconduct but also the justification mechanisms that allow the divorce between moral standards and action, and that moral disengagement and cheating behaviour reciprocally support each other over time. Specifically, not only did moral disengagement influence cheating behaviour even when controlling for its prior levels, but also cheating behaviour affected moral disengagement one year later, controlling for its prior levels. These findings suggest that recourse to wrongdoing could gradually lead to further normalising this kind of behaviour and morally desensitising individuals to misconduct.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberta Fida & Carlo Tramontano & Marinella Paciello & Valerio Ghezzi & Claudio Barbaranelli, 2018. "Understanding the Interplay Among Regulatory Self-Efficacy, Moral Disengagement, and Academic Cheating Behaviour During Vocational Education: A Three-Wave Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(3), pages 725-740, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:153:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-016-3373-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3373-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mark Simkin & Alexander McLeod, 2010. "Why Do College Students Cheat?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 94(3), pages 441-453, July.
    2. Michael O’Fallon & Kenneth Butterfield, 2012. "The Influence of Unethical Peer Behavior on Observers’ Unethical Behavior: A Social Cognitive Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 109(2), pages 117-131, August.
    3. Klaas Sijtsma, 2009. "On the Use, the Misuse, and the Very Limited Usefulness of Cronbach’s Alpha," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 74(1), pages 107-120, March.
    4. Al-Karim Samnani & Sabrina Salamon & Parbudyal Singh, 2014. "Negative Affect and Counterproductive Workplace Behavior: The Moderating Role of Moral Disengagement and Gender," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 119(2), pages 235-244, January.
    5. Roberta Fida & Marinella Paciello & Carlo Tramontano & Reid Fontaine & Claudio Barbaranelli & Maria Farnese, 2015. "An Integrative Approach to Understanding Counterproductive Work Behavior: The Roles of Stressors, Negative Emotions, and Moral Disengagement," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(1), pages 131-144, August.
    6. William Meredith, 1993. "Measurement invariance, factor analysis and factorial invariance," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 58(4), pages 525-543, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ulf Schaefer & Onno Bouwmeester, 2021. "Reconceptualizing Moral Disengagement as a Process: Transcending Overly Liberal and Overly Conservative Practice in the Field," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 172(3), pages 525-543, September.
    2. Elena Druică & Călin Vâlsan & Rodica Ianole-Călin & Răzvan Mihail-Papuc & Irena Munteanu, 2019. "Exploring the Link between Academic Dishonesty and Economic Delinquency: A Partial Least Squares Path Modeling Approach," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Daniel Kimutai Kemei & Chrispus Koinange Wawire, PhD & Philomena Ndambuki, PhD, 2023. "Perceived Scholastic Competence and Academic Deceit among Form four Students in Baringo County, Kenya," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(8), pages 1260-1268, August.
    4. Gabi Eissa & Scott W. Lester, 2022. "A Moral Disengagement Investigation of How and When Supervisor Psychological Entitlement Instigates Abusive Supervision," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(2), pages 675-694, October.

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