Comments on: Walking the Walk http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/2009/03/walking-the-walk/ Economics, Politics, Entertainment and Life in Academia Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:12:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: ProfSwitzer http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/2009/03/walking-the-walk/comment-page-1/#comment-82 ProfSwitzer Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:53:20 +0000 http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/?p=509#comment-82 I definitely understand that argument, Ben. And I would argue that's why just giving the student an F in the class is not enough, especially if a student is already doing poorly in the class -- not much of a punishment to give someone an F when they would probably get a D anyway, and if they can cheat and get a B, why not give it a shot? I'm not sure if expulsion is appropriate (probably a bit harsh) but perhaps suspension from school for a semester might make one think twice about cheating. When the expected value of cheating is positive, students will cheat. Our job is to make the expected value of cheating negative, by either increasing the probability a student will be caught when they cheat, or by increasing the punishment when they do get caught. I definitely understand that argument, Ben. And I would argue that’s why just giving the student an F in the class is not enough, especially if a student is already doing poorly in the class — not much of a punishment to give someone an F when they would probably get a D anyway, and if they can cheat and get a B, why not give it a shot? I’m not sure if expulsion is appropriate (probably a bit harsh) but perhaps suspension from school for a semester might make one think twice about cheating.

When the expected value of cheating is positive, students will cheat. Our job is to make the expected value of cheating negative, by either increasing the probability a student will be caught when they cheat, or by increasing the punishment when they do get caught.

]]> By: Ben Blomgren http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/2009/03/walking-the-walk/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Ben Blomgren Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:41:45 +0000 http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/?p=509#comment-80 I couldn't help but wonder if the student felt that cheating was more beneficial than studying. It is somewhat like a speeding ticket in a sense that if you constantly speed you obviously face the risk of receiving a speeding ticket. If you save yourself enough time each day by running red lights, speeding, or what have you... then eventually you will come out ahead. The $130 ticket is not enough to compensate for the amount of time (considered at the individual's wage rate) you have saved...which might be in to the hundreds of hours by the time a cop catches you. He likely saved hundreds of hours of studying by cheating so he thought that if he were caught and he failed one class then he would come out ahead because professors will not take most cases to judicial. Looks like he had imperfect knowledge! Just sharing my thoughts... I couldn’t help but wonder if the student felt that cheating was more beneficial than studying. It is somewhat like a speeding ticket in a sense that if you constantly speed you obviously face the risk of receiving a speeding ticket. If you save yourself enough time each day by running red lights, speeding, or what have you… then eventually you will come out ahead. The $130 ticket is not enough to compensate for the amount of time (considered at the individual’s wage rate) you have saved…which might be in to the hundreds of hours by the time a cop catches you. He likely saved hundreds of hours of studying by cheating so he thought that if he were caught and he failed one class then he would come out ahead because professors will not take most cases to judicial. Looks like he had imperfect knowledge! Just sharing my thoughts…

]]> By: ProfSwitzer http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/2009/03/walking-the-walk/comment-page-1/#comment-79 ProfSwitzer Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:45:10 +0000 http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/?p=509#comment-79 I've got the evidence, Zach. Once this whole thing works itself out, I'll give details. But there's nothing circumstantial about this one... I’ve got the evidence, Zach. Once this whole thing works itself out, I’ll give details. But there’s nothing circumstantial about this one…

]]> By: Zach http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/2009/03/walking-the-walk/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Zach Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:30:17 +0000 http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/?p=509#comment-78 I will agree Dave but only if you have the solid evidence, because if not it will get more difficult. I have been on the other side of being accused myself, its probably the only time that I have ever been ok of a poor grade because the professor was threatening to take actions but I pointed out why would I cheat and some how get a worse grade than the other person. I will agree Dave but only if you have the solid evidence, because if not it will get more difficult. I have been on the other side of being accused myself, its probably the only time that I have ever been ok of a poor grade because the professor was threatening to take actions but I pointed out why would I cheat and some how get a worse grade than the other person.

]]> By: Ali McGinty http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/2009/03/walking-the-walk/comment-page-1/#comment-77 Ali McGinty Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:15:17 +0000 http://www.profswitzer.com/blog/?p=509#comment-77 I agree Dave. I admire you for taking the time to go through the process. If cheating was permitted it would defeat the purpose of attending classes to learn. I agree Dave. I admire you for taking the time to go through the process. If cheating was permitted it would defeat the purpose of attending classes to learn.

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