By: Ben Lee Taylor, PhD
Although … the guidelines do specify a minimum of three outside sources, and you haven’t even chosen a topic yet. You also didn’t do too well on the midterm, and you promised yourself you’d make up for it by working hard on this paper. Not to mention, spending the next few hours on this essay will push back all the other coursework that is slowly piling up.
You reach for your phone. *TAP* Instagram, a welcome distraction. An ad lands on your FYP:
“High quality, affordable essays. Quick turnaround. Guaranteed plagiarism-free. 100% satisfaction or your money back. Get a quote NOW!”
*TAP*
The company’s website looks professionally designed and their writers all have graduate degrees. A pop-up window appears:
Need help with an assignment? Our experts are ready to chat with you.
Is this…cheating? Maybe? No, it definitely has to be. But everyone must cheat at some point, right? How are they all keeping up with this workload? And it’s just anthropology; it’s not like it’s your major. And it’s plagiarism-free. No one will ever know.
*TAP*
What is contract cheating?
An evolving “business.” The scenario above describes what is known as “contract cheating“—hiring a third party to complete your academic work—and is in direct violation of McMaster’s Academic Integrity Policy. It also alludes to some of the reasons why students are driven to such violations and the explanations they may give for their actions.
Contract cheating is often associated or even conflated with the term “essay mill,” which conjures the image of a factory full of wage labourers churning out countless papers day after day. Although essay mills make up a good portion of contract cheating outfits, there are also contract cheating services that are just as happy to complete an entire course for you—attending class for you and taking quizzes, midterms, exams, etc.
Because contract cheating involves individuals and companies external to McMaster, this category of academic dishonesty has a unique set of risks and consequences. In fact, getting caught might be the least of your worries after hiring what Kristina Nicholls calls “unscrupulous gremlins.” Nicholls and others argue that blackmail and extortion represent new income streams for contract cheating providers, who have no problem threatening to expose students to their home universities unless they pay up.
Once you’ve provided enough personal information, your academic reputation is completely at the mercy of these companies and websites, which may very well not live up to any of the promises they make about quality or timeliness. Allowing contract cheating employees to attend class or take tests on your behalf typically requires you to share your student login credentials, which is another point of vulnerability and a serious breach of university security policy.
The bottom line is that once you’ve crossed this ethical threshold, there is no incentive for contract cheating companies to give you anything. Forcing you to buy their silence is simply more cost-effective.
Just say no? Easier said than done.
As with any type of academic integrity issue, being honest and doing your own work are surefire ways to stay out of trouble. However, research shows that even when students acknowledge that cheating is unethical, there are factors that may cause them to act against their better judgement.
In a recent Canadian survey, the top three justifications for academic dishonesty were related to pressures around workload and performance. These reasons are similar to those given by a group of Australian students when asked why they would choose to hire a contract cheating company. Researchers have also identified that international students may be more likely to engage in contract cheating, possibly due to the added stress of maintaining academic standing to meet study permit conditions.
So, how do you resist the appeal of what might appear, in desperate times, to be a quick and simple solution?
How we can support you
Seeking out and leveraging the supports available to you at McMaster is the first step toward protecting yourself against the predatory practices of contract cheating companies. The Student Success Centre’s programs and services can help you develop productive habits that will contribute to a strong academic foundation.
These are a just a few ways the SSC is here to support you from feeling that cheating is the only way to keep up with your work:
- Book an appointment on OSCARplus with an Academic Peer Mentor, Academic Coach or Writing Advisor.
- Check out our library of Writing and Academic Skills Essentials videos.
- For international students, visit the International and Exchange Student Experience office for a drop-in appointment.
In addition, understand the process for missed academic work (MSAF), and connect with an Academic Advisor if you feel that your course load is unmanageable. Also, the Student Wellness Centre offers professional counselling and a variety of programs that can help you manage stress and improve your overall mental health.
For more information on academic integrity at McMaster, visit the Office of Academic Integrity’s website.
References
Better Business Bureau. (2024, July 23). BBB scam alert: Cheating on homework leads to extortion scam. Better Business Bureau. https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/24032-bbb-scam-alert-students-hire-homework-help-and-end-up-in-extortion-con
Bretag, T., Harper, R., Burton, M., Ellis, C., Newton, P., Rozenberg, P., Saddiqui, S., & van Haeringen, K. (2018). Contract cheating: a survey of Australian university students. Studies in Higher Education, 44(11), 1837–1856. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2018.1462788
Chow, H. P. H., Jurdi-Hage, R., & Hage, H. S. (2021). Justifying academic dishonesty: A survey of Canadian university students. International Journal of Academic Research in Education, 7(1), 16-28. https://doi.org/10.17985/ijare.951714
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. (2024, September 18). Study permit conditions. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/while-you-study/study-permit-conditions.html
Nicholls, K. (2021, November 30). Students who cheat don’t just have to worry about getting caught. They risk blackmail and extortion. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/students-who-cheat-dont-just-have-to-worry-about-getting-caught-they-risk-blackmail-and-extortion-172403
Sutherland-Smith, W., & Dullaghan, K. (2019). You don’t always get what you pay for: User experiences of engaging with contract cheating sites. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 44(8), 1148–1162. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2019.1576028
Yorke, J., Sefcik, L., & Veeran-Colton, T. (2020). Contract cheating and blackmail: a risky business? Studies in Higher Education, 47(1), 53–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2020.1730313