1. Acting dishonestly, as these students did, certainly lacks integrity. Besides honesty, what other characteristics of integrity can you think of?
2. How was integrity demonstrated and not demonstrated in this case study? Explain.
3. While Henry Lynch was clearly wrong to break in and steal the exam, do you think he upheld integrity by confessing to the crime and his previous crimes? Why or why not?
4. It is unlikely that these students did not know that cheating was wrong. Yet, they were likely similar in personality profile to their peers. Why might a student go to such great lengths to steal an exam? What rationalizations might Lynch have given himself for cheating? What other pressures or biases might have affected Lynch’s decision to cheat?
5. Troy Kiphuth, Lynch’s friend, was not enrolled in the statistics class. Why do you think he assisted with the break-in to steal an exam he would not be taking? What pressures might have influenced his decision to participate? Explain.
6. If you became aware of students cheating on an exam, what would you do and why? What factors would encourage you to tell a professor about the cheating? What factors might discourage you from telling a professor?
7. How might colleges and universities guard against cheating? What do you think are some best practices to uphold academic integrity? Explain.
8. Two major approaches to improving behavior in both universities and companies are (1) a compliance-based approach that focuses on creating rules and enforcing compliance with them, and (2) an integrity-based approach that focuses on building character in students and employees. Which do you think might be more effective? Why?
9. Can you describe a time when you acted with integrity? Or someone you know did? How did it feel? What was the result?
10. Can you describe a time when a public figure acted with integrity? What was the result? How did you feel, or what did you think, about her/him?