Gender differences in cheating attitudes and classroom cheating behavior: A meta-analysis

Although academic dishonesty is a major problem in American colleges and universities, relatively little research has investigated gender differences in cheating. Based on the differential socialization theory of gender differences in moral reasoning (e.g., Chodorow, 1989; Gilligan, 1982) we expected that, compared to women, men would report more favorable attitudes toward cheating and more cheating behavior. We conducted a meta-analysis that included 8 studies of gender differences in attitudes toward cheating 34 studies of gender differences in cheating behavior, and 6 studies that investigated both attitudes and behavior. Although the mean effect size for gender differences in attitudes was of moderate magnitude, equivalent to a correlation of r = .21, the mean effect size for behavior was small, equivalent to r = .08. Behavior effect sizes also varied as a function of field of study, method of data collection, and country in which the study was conducted. We discuss the implications of our results for future research on gender differences in academic dishonesty.