Factors Associated With Examination Malpractices in Public Universities: A Case Study of Undergraduates at the School Of Statistics and Planning at Makerere University

Abstract

The major objective of this study is to investigate the factors associated with examination malpractices in public universities with a Case Study of the School of Statistics and Planning at Makerere University. The study applied a non-experimental design called descriptive survey research design. This study used a non-probability kind of sampling called purposive sampling. Purposive sampling therefore used in this study because some of the respondents at the school of statistics and planning in Makerere University may not be readily available at the time of data collection. Once the administered questionnaires are gathered, the data analysis will be done according to the dissertation. Thus, all the data was collected from respondents was analyzed based on descriptive statistical analysis by using the SPSS software so as to obtain a more statistical analysis of the study. Chi-square test was used by the researcher for bivariate analysis of two categorical variables. Multiple linear regression model was used in this study because it attempts to model the relationship between two or more explanatory variables and a response variable by fitting a linear equation to observed data. The regression results shows a statistically significant positive relationship (at 5 percent level of significance) between the poor study habit and the cases of examination malpractices in this study since its p-value is less than 0.05. The results were as postulated and this means that on average, a unit increase in the poor study habit leads to a 3.25 increase in the cases of examination malpractices in public universities when the other independent variables are held constant. The regression results shows a statistically significant positive relationship (at 5 percent level of significance) between the poor lecture attendance and the cases of examination malpractices in this study since its p-value is less than 0.05. The results were as postulated and this means that on average, a unit increase in the poor lecture attendance leads to a 5.96 increase in the cases of examination malpractices in public universities when the other independent variables are held constant. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that there should be the full implementation of the examination malpractices degree which provides for imprisonment of culprits to 10 years jail term. Hence, the arrest and prosecution of students caught in examination malpractices should always be done to serve as a lesson to others.