The heterogeneous processes of cheating: Attention evidence from two eye tracking experiments

Fosgaard, Toke; Jacobsen, Catrine; Street, Chris

Abstract

Dishonesty erodes society. Although much is known about dishonesty, the process leading up to the decision of whether to be honest or dishonest is often assumed to be homogenous and is not well understood. In this paper, we take a more nuanced approach and explore more closely the process of deciding whether to cheat or be honest when an opportunity to cheat arises. We do this in two laboratory eye tracking experiments. In our first experiment (n = 193), we identify heterogeneity in the decision to cheat. Some decisions on whether to cheat or be honest exhibit relatively little variation and appear to be oriented towards cheating (or honesty) with apparently little consideration of the alternative, whereas other decisions seem to be characterized by a higher degree of consideration for both decision alternatives. Our second experiment (n = 299) demonstrates that a gaze dependent intervention in the choices process is able to affect the behavioral outcomes.

Citation

Fosgaard, T., Jacobsen, C., & Street, C. (2021). The heterogeneous processes of cheating: Attention evidence from two eye tracking experiments. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 34(1), 131-139. https://doi.org/10.1002/bdm.2200

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jul 10, 2020
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Deposit Date: Jun 1, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Behavioral Decision Making
• Print ISSN: 0894-3257
• Electronic ISSN: 1099-0771
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 131-139
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bdm.2200
• Keywords: Strategy and Management; Sociology and Political Science; Applied Psychology; Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous); General Decision Sciences
• Additional Information: Received: 2020-02-20; Accepted: 2020-06-23; Published: 2020-07-10