MORAL COMPASS AND UNETHICAL PRACTICES IN ACADEMICS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BARINGO COUNTY, KENYA

Authors

  • Daniel Kimutai Kemei Department of Education, Kenyatta University, Kenya orcid.org/0009-0007-1231-4890
  • Chrispus Koinange Wawire PhD, Department of Education, Kenyatta University, Kenya orcid.org/0000-0002-5167-8247
  • Philomena Wavinya Ndambuki PhD, Department of Education, Kenyatta University, Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v10i11.5083

Keywords:

moral compass, unethical practices, academics, values, students, cheating

Abstract

Academic honesty is a critical aspect of an education system as it ensures learners have the necessary knowledge, skills, and competencies. However, there have been reported incidences where learners have engaged in unethical practices. This study sought to establish whether moral compass is related to the enactment of ethical practices in academics among 396 systematic sample of secondary school students aged between 16 to 21 years. Data was analyzed using descriptive and correlational approaches. The results showed that the majority of the respondents had a high moral compass. Also, very few (12%) had never engaged in unethical practices in academics. In addition, moral compass was inverse and significantly related to involvement in unethical behaviours in academics. It was recommended that further studies should be conducted on why there is incongruence between student’s beliefs and values and ethical practices in academics.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Daniel Kimutai Kemei, Department of Education, Kenyatta University, Kenya orcid.org/0009-0007-1231-4890

    Daniel Kimutai Kemei (ORCID: orcid.org/0009-0007-1231-4890) is an Educational Psychology PhD graduand. He earned his Bachelors and Master’s Degree from Moi University in the year 2006 and 2012 respectively. His research interests are in learner characteristics and quantitative methods in psychology. He has published articles in international scientific journals (doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2023.7897; doi:10.9790/0837-2808090515, handle/123456789/415). He is currently a manager at a financial institution.

  • Chrispus Koinange Wawire, PhD, Department of Education, Kenyatta University, Kenya orcid.org/0000-0002-5167-8247

    Dr. Chrispus Koinange Wawire (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5167-8247) is a Lecturer at Kenyatta University, Department of Educational Psychology. His research interests are in Education, teaching and study methods.

  • Philomena Wavinya Ndambuki, PhD, Department of Education, Kenyatta University, Kenya

    Dr. Philomena Wavinya Ndambuki is a Lecturer at Kenyatta University, Department of Educational Psychology. Her research interests are in multicultural perspectives in counseling, adolescent development and couples and family counseling.

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Published

2023-10-27

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 11 (2023)

Section

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