Dark Triad Personality Traits and Moral Disengagement as Predictors of Students’ Propensity for Academic Dishonesty in Selected Kenyan Universities

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dc.contributor.advisorJotham N. Dingaen_US
dc.contributor.advisorAnthony M. Irerien_US
dc.contributor.authorOigo, Martha Lilian Akoth
dc.date.accessioned2023-02-21T11:57:15Z
dc.date.available2023-02-21T11:57:15Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.descriptionA Research Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Educational Psychology) in the School of Education of Kenyatta University, 2022en_US
dc.description.abstractPrevalence of academic dishonesty in Kenyan universities continues to be a great concern to educators. The problem has persisted even with institutions’ attempts to prevent, or punish students found to engage in academic dishonesty. Knowledge of situational factors associated with the vice has led to changes in dealing with academic dishonesty, but still the problem persists. A research focusing on personal factors related to propensity for academic dishonesty may provide new ways of approaching this problem. The objectives of this study were to: establish the relationship between Narcissism and propensity for academic dishonesty; investigate the relationship between Machiavellianism and propensity for academic dishonesty; determine the relationship between Psychopathy and propensity for academic dishonesty; investigate the relationship between moral disengagement and propensity for academic dishonesty; investigate whether sex moderated the relationship between the dark triad traits, moral disengagement and propensity for academic dishonesty; investigate the predictive value of the dark triad traits, and moral disengagement, on propensity for academic dishonesty. Guided by the life history theory and the social cognitive theory of moral thought and action, the study employed a predictive correlational design. The study sample consisted of 425 Bachelor of Education second year students, from seven chartered, public universities in Kenya. Data were collected using a questionnaire with items adapted from the Dark Triad of Personality Scale, Moral Disengagement Questionnaire, and Tendency toward Academic Misconduct Scale. A pilot study was conducted with a sample of 44 students. Bivariate relationships were examined using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, results were as follows: Psychopathy had a significant and positive correlation with propensity for academic dishonesty, r (423) = .30, p < .05. Moral disengagement had a significant and positive correlation with propensity for academic dishonesty, r (423) = .39, p < .05. Narcissism had a negative but significant relationship with propensity for academic dishonesty, r (423) = -.17, p < .05. Machiavellianism had a non-significant relationship with propensity for academic dishonesty, r (423) = -.05, p > .05. A hierarchical multiple regression revealed that the relationship between the dark triad traits, moral disengagement, and propensity for academic dishonesty was not moderated by sex. Narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and moral disengagement significantly predicted propensity for academic dishonesty (F (4,420) = 24.54, p < .05). Moral disengagement had the highest predictive value on propensity for academic dishonesty, (β = .52, p < .05), followed by narcissism, (β = -.23, p < .01), and psychopathy (β = .22, p < .05). Machiavellianism did not contribute significantly to the prediction, (β = -.07, p > .05). Social desirability accounted for 13 percent change in students’ propensity for academic dishonesty, R2 =.13, Adjusted R2 =.12, F (1,423) = 61.14, p <.05. Exploratory analyses showed partial mediation of moral disengagement in the relationship between psychopathy and propensity for academic dishonesty. The study concluded that the dark triad traits and moral disengagement were relevant in predicting propensity for academic dishonesty. Information from this study may provide insight for improving existing policies, practice, and ethics training on academic dishonesty in Kenyaen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipKenyatta Universityen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/24817
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherKenyatta Universityen_US
dc.subjectDark Triad Personality Traitsen_US
dc.subjectMoral Disengagementen_US
dc.subjectPredictors of Students’ Propensityen_US
dc.subjectAcademic Dishonestyen_US
dc.subjectKenyan Universitiesen_US
dc.titleDark Triad Personality Traits and Moral Disengagement as Predictors of Students’ Propensity for Academic Dishonesty in Selected Kenyan Universitiesen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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