Understanding Contract Cheating and Essay Mills Through a Social Lens in the Era of Web 3.0
Publication Name
Springer International Handbooks of Education
Abstract
Over the last two decades, the term contract cheating appeared on the radar of academic integrity researchers worldwide. Academics globally have been grappling with rising cases and threats particularly from essay mills, companies that provide essay writing or related services, a threat that is increasingly becoming a menace in society and possibly an addiction that can ravage the economy, given its possible origins right from the school days of a learner. To date, most focus has been given to contract cheating service providers (CCSPs) and students who use such services; however, little attention has been given to the analysis of the motivation and influences that lead to these unethical practices. This chapter attempts to probe, through a social lens, the phenomenon of contract cheating, the providers, the beneficiaries, and the causes especially in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. In addition, the evolutionary nature of this negative behavior from the childhood of a learner, parental role in the issue, and possible corrective measures are presented. The aim of this chapter is to provide a premise for readers to look at contract cheating as not only an academic concern, but a social concern which goes beyond classrooms in order to develop deeper understanding of the various factors that shape students’ willingness and acceptance of CCSPs, and how CCSPs may well be using consumer and social marketing concepts to create an unwholesome demand for their unethical service, thus initiating a vicious cycle. The role of transformatory consumer research to understand the drivers behind contract cheating are discussed along with a prescriptive description of the role of social marketing to curb the practice of contract cheating.
Open Access Status
This publication is not available as open access
Volume
Part F2304
First Page
763
Last Page
784