BACKGROUND: The number of nursing programs offering online courses continues to expand. This is a relatively new method of instruction that has not been extensively evaluated. Academic integrity in the online classroom is one area of concern. This study compared academic integrity in both an online and a traditional classroom registered nurse to baccalaureate in nursing (RN-BSN) program. METHODS: A comparative descriptive design was used to evaluate academic integrity in the two RN-BSN cohorts. RESULTS: The traditional classroom RN-BSN students reported higher levels of cheating compared with the online students. Self-reported cheating behaviors were higher among younger students in the traditional classroom. CONCLUSION: This study did not support contemporary concerns that cheating is more prevalent in online courses. Copyright 2010, SLACK Incorporated.
BACKGROUND: The number of nursing programs offering online courses continues to expand. This is a relatively new method of instruction that has not been extensively evaluated. Academic integrity in the online classroom is one area of concern. This study compared academic integrity in both an online and a traditional classroom registered nurse to baccalaureate in nursing (RN-BSN) program. METHODS: A comparative descriptive design was used to evaluate academic integrity in the two RN-BSN cohorts. RESULTS: The traditional classroom RN-BSN students reported higher levels of cheating compared with the online students. Self-reported cheating behaviors were higher among younger students in the traditional classroom. CONCLUSION: This study did not support contemporary concerns that cheating is more prevalent in online courses. Copyright 2010, SLACK Incorporated.