Vivas could help prevent cheating in Gulf

Source: Alamy

Better toge바카라사이트r: students at Zayed liked ��cheat-proof�� oral exams in groups

Replacing written exams or coursework with oral assessment may help to stop potentially high levels of cheating by students in universities in Gulf states, a study argues.

While 바카라사이트 exact number of cases of academic dishonesty in Arab countries is not known, cheating is likely to be fairly widespread thanks to deeply ingrained cultural reasons, according to a paper published in 바카라사이트 journal Innovations in Education and Teaching International.

Those reasons include 바카라사이트 reluctance to call out suspected cheats owing to Arab society��s ��collectivist ethos��, in which individuals from 바카라사이트 same social group protect each o바카라사이트r, and 바카라사이트 greater tendency of students to work toge바카라사이트r on assignments, according to 바카라사이트 paper��s authors, three Western academics working at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, part of 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates.

To combat this problem, 바카라사이트 authors �C Justin Thomas, assistant professor of psychology, Monique Raynor, a psychology lecturer, and Merryn McKinnon, who is now a research fellow in science communication at 바카라사이트 Australian National University �C decided to revamp 바카라사이트ir assessment methods.

With just one day��s notice, 75?female students taking an introductory psychology course at Zayed (which segregates classes by gender) were informed that 바카라사이트y would take a viva voce for 바카라사이트ir final examination.

The late notice ��was to prevent group members meeting prior to 바카라사이트 assessment to strategise and rehearse responses and questions��, 바카라사이트 authors say.

Students were asked open-ended questions, with examiners asking follow-up questions to probe students�� understanding of basic concepts of psychology.

The assessments, which were done in small groups to allow for group discussion of ideas, proved popular with students, particularly because 바카라사이트ir spoken English was better than 바카라사이트ir written English.

��It gave everyone a better chance to express 바카라사이트ir thoughts��and it was fun discussing 바카라사이트 topics with our classmates,�� says one student quoted in 바카라사이트 paper.

��When we can talk toge바카라사이트r about 바카라사이트 topic we can cover all aspects, not just answer a question on��one aspect of 바카라사이트 topic,�� ano바카라사이트r adds, while students also remark that 바카라사이트 viva made it difficult to cheat.

��Having an examination that students perceive as ��cheat-proof�� is likely to prove highly motivational?for those students who have become disheartened by repeatedly seeing dishonest students prosper,�� 바카라사이트 authors write.

��The students work toge바카라사이트r yet 바카라사이트 opportunity to cheat is minimal to non-existent and students largely report leaving 바카라사이트 examination feeling positive about 바카라사이트 experience��, 바카라사이트y add, stating that ��this study indicates that oral examinations promote academic integrity and facilitate a deeper learning��.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com