By Alexia Orosco, Editor
The thought of final exams makes almost all of us cringe knowing we have to put time and effort into studying for the next few days.
While a majority of us tough it out and study for our tests, a handful of students would prefer to simply blow off studying completely or find the easy way out and cheat their way through finals.
According to a recent study released by the Canadian University Press, the increased use of technology is to blame for the escalating number of students involved in cheating or other academic dishonesty.
Being given the privilege to have our phones and other electronics during class, taking advantage of those devices can easily become a bad habit.
Every now and then, it’s typical to get caught texting during class or listening to our iPod while the teacher is giving a lecture.
Using these electronics can distract us from what is being taught and often result in not fully understanding the material, because we were stuck sending a text to our friend in the class down the hall.
“Phones can definitely be tempting, but I think it all depends on the student,” sophomore Rachel Miller said.
When students begin to abuse the use of cellphones by finding ways to cheat on tests and reveal answers to other students; however, that’s where the line is drawn.
Peer pressure from friends is often a major result in giving away answers, causing students to stoop as low as finding ways to cheat on assignments or exams.
According to UNL News Releases, 74 percent of high school students admit to giving someone answers to a test at least once throughout their high school career, and 7 out of 10 students admit to providing answers from the test to someone who still had yet to take the exam.
According to the American Psychological Association, one reason students cheat is because they feel that they’re entitled to do so.
With harder classes and tougher teachers, some of us have the mind set that we’re obligated to cheat our way through assignments and tests, and can easily get away with it since we may have before.
“Incentives such as high grades and scholarships seem to activate dishonesty in individuals,” APA said.
Students who simply feel like they aren’t prepared for the test, according to the APA, is also a common reason why high school students cheat. Making a classroom less competitive could avoid tempting students to cheat, APA said.
While most students are stuck in the ‘I have the answers right in front of my face’ moment, believe it or not, sometimes we don’t even consider certain types of cheating to be wrong.
Surprisingly, over half of us high school students believe that cheating isn’t necessarily bad, according to US News and World Report.
“I don’t think that using your resources [if it’s not on a test] is considered cheating. It’s your fault if you don’t know the material,” Miller said, “I have done homework with a friend and I definitely don’t consider it cheating. It’s a great way to get your work done without isolating yourself from people.”
Science Daily said that students often carry misperceptions of what cheating really is, and that it’s a widespread action among students because sometimes they don’t even realize that they’re doing it.
“You are taking a huge risk if you decide to cheat and sometimes it’s just better to put your phone away,” Miller said.