Educators’ Academic Integrity: The Case of Three Selected Universities in the Southern Region of Ethiopia

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to investigate the status and features of academic integrity among educators of universities in southern Ethiopia. The study designed to achieve the objectives used quantitative approach where cross-sectional survey design was implemented.Three hundred fifty five respondents were selected for the study using multistage sampling method. The data were gathered using an academic integrity scale measuring honesty, trust, respect, fairness, and responsibility. The data gathered were organized and analyzed using SPSS – version – 24. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to analyze the data. The finding of the study revealed that significant number of the respondents (35.5%) was moderate in their academic integrity; the academic integrity of 24.8 percent of the respondents was low; 22.1 percent of them were poor in their academic integrity; 16.1 percent of them demonstrated high academic integrity while the percent of the respondents who demonstrated very high academic integrity was 1.5 percent of the total participants. Moreover, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that all honesty, trust, respect, fairness and responsibility determine academic integrity equally. As educators’ academic integrity contributes for educational quality in higher institutions,universities should design and implement a program to change educators’ academic integrity mindset, and find out and address factors that can it.