A question of ethics

*This is all hypothetical...



Think about the following scenario


Many colleges and universities have very strict cellphone policies when it comes to taking exams. Convicted of cheating, one could receiving a failing grade in the course or worse still, they could be expelled.

Let us say that I am taking an exam. I had a bit of trouble on the last question, but managed to finish that portion of the exam with half an hour left to spare. I decide to take a quick water break at the fountain just a few yards down the hall. During my break, I suddenly realize I made a mistake on that last question, so upon returning to the classroom I erase my previous mark and rectify the error. I put my pencil down and prepare to wait out the remaining twenty-nine minutes. Moments later, the professor walks over to my desk and asks whether I had just changed my answer, to which I respond, Yes. The professor is generously lenient, so he remains in front of me while I switch the answers back to the way they were.
Half-way through the final portion of the exam I realize that a few of the students who had just submitted their exams cheated by using their smartphones, and they did not get caught. Nearing the end of the exam, I re-correct my answer without the professor noticing and I submit the exam.


Am I guilty? Why? In my defense, I was gone for less than one minute (hardly enough time to cheat, right?). It seems unfair that I should lose credit for something I merely remembered.


Explain your position and I'll try to defend my own.

 

What on earth kind of university do you go to. When I take my exams, we are required to place our phones on the table, or in our bag; mere possession of a cellphone is grounds for disciplinary action. If we want to go to the toilet, or fill up our water bottles, we have to place our hands up and an invigilator will accompany us. I'm just kind of confused, are you guys allowed to take leisurely strolls towards a drinking fountain during an exam without anyone accompanying you?

Let's say you are allowed. Are you then allowed to correct your papers, or is the exam then considered finished? If you are not allowed to correct your papers, then you have quite clearly violated university policy. If you are allowed to correct your papers, then I'd complain to whoever and say that the professor was distracting you from peacefully completing your exam paper. The professor could say that he thought you were using your cellphone, but unless university policy says otherwise, the burden of proof is on the professor. As for other students cheating, I don't think that's morally relevant in this scenario.

 

Guilty of what? Disobeying orders? It's done all the time, I see no issue with it.

 

Something being commonplace doesn't make it ethical/unethical.

However, in this case, what you did wasn't unethical. If you had actually cheated, then it would be, but you shouldn't be preemptively punished on the suspicion that you cheated, with no conclusive proof that you did. I'm surprised you weren't caught changing your answer back.

 

It seems I wasn't clear enough, but the scenario is hypothetical. Its specifics are important only to the extent that they set the context for the question I posed.


Perhaps I can re-frame it:


The professor asked me to change my answer back; he did not inquire as to whether or not I cheated while I was out of the room. I agreed to revert my answer because I was asked to - at that instant I was in agreement with the professor. However, upon realizing I had not actually done anything wrong (at least from my vantage point) I decided to re-establish what I deemed a just action.

Is my insubordination of the professor's request hard evidence of my guilt, or does the reality of the situation present a reasonable justification for the actions I took?

 

Do you believe your input determines your output in life? Hard work doesn't always equate to success. If that was the case, we wouldn't have so many hardworking people still living in poverty.

This is just a test. There will always be people looking for the easy way out. Obviously there are consequences for those who are caught, but those who get away are the true victors. So disregard the ethical talk, it's not that serious here.

Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.

 

Contrarily, in fields where understanding is everything, if you can't solve exam-like problems at the very LEAST whilst under duress, then your job is essentially forfeit as well. This is mainly in fields where mathematics and physical concepts need be applied in real life, such as in sciences.

For example, I'm frequently in and out of a chemistry lab at my university. I have to do exam-like calculations on the fly, or the results of my experiments will be at risk as time is money in laboratories and you only have so much of it. Does that make me the "true victor" if I can pass an exam but can't apply any knowledge?

 

This is why visual assessments exists. Test taking is just one of steps necessary to move forward. Most people who cheat just want the diploma. It's funny how a piece of paper can determine your ability to work in certain areas that don't really require one. We only have society to thank for that.

 

To me, if the professor at the time provides no reason for why you should switch your answers back, and, soon after you decide to swap your answers because you cannot think of any reasonable explanation as to why you had to revert your answer, then I don't think there's anything wrong with you changing your answer even after agreeing to your professors demands.

If that hypothetical actually happened to me, I would probably say that I only agreed to the professors demands as I was under a high pressure, and highly stressful environment, however, after taking in the whole situation I thought that the professor was trolling me, and I would have actually complained about the professors actions, as they not only wasted my time, but placed more unnecessary stress on me.

 

In a way, however for those studying engineering in Australia we actually have to do a minimum amount of paid full-time work in order to graduate and earn our degrees. This means that those who cheat and don't understand what they're doing are in a lot of trouble when they want that piece of paper handed to them, and rightly so.

From what I've seen though, you can break in to any field without a degree, it just takes a bit more time as you have to be able to prove your worth through actual work instead. My brother works in Information Technology in a respectable enough position having never gone to university, he simply worked his ass off until it became realised he knew his stuff. Even now, his knowledge on Linux and other certain things is essentially arcane compared to the rest of the employees, so the company prefers him over degree-holding others.

 

I really don't see how your response has anything to do with what I said, since I never even mentioned hard work, success, etc. The only thing I said is that cheating is unethical.

Ordering you to change your answer is outside of the authority given to professors. In order to be expelled for cheating, the professor has to make a case against the student and present it to a board of staff. Is changing the answer back wrong? No. Is it an admission of guilt, or evidence of foul play? No. However, the board & professor have almost unlimited power over the situation, even if the evidence wouldn't hold up in "court" with lawyers, judges, juries etc as all happenstance, the board/professor could easily punish a student for something they didn't do, and changing the answer after the professor's confrontation could very easily sway the opinion of the board or confirm the suspicions of the professor.

 

That's actually pretty damn smart, does the education provider have to find that for you, or is that something you need to setup for yourself? Do you know if that applies to any other degrees?

 

At my university if we leave the room during an exam the exam has to be turned in. We are also required to leave our all of our electronic devices on one of the front tables that no one is sitting at. I had a kindle and that was even required to go on the table. No bathroom breaks, no water breaks except at breaks in between the test parts. Granted, we usually have 3 part exams to combat the issue of using the restroom ect.

To be honest, I would have spoken to the professor and ratted on the people who were cheating and explained that I was not cheating and simply needed water.

 

We have to apply for it ourselves. It's basically like searching for an internship.

This is the guidelines for graduation laid down by Engineers Australia, so I'm not sure if it applies to any other degree.

 

This is also seen in good programs here in the US.

Like Northeastern University's engineering degree requires 4 years of education and 6 months of full time engineering work (aka co-op program).

 

No, you are not guilty. I personally never cheated on tests but it is up to you whether or not you like a challenge.