Language and Cheating in Higher Learning Education Examinations

Abstract

This study intended to examine the language used in cheating in higher learning education examinations. The study specifically sought: to explore the body language used in cheating during examination; identify reasons for choice of the used body languages in cheating during examinations; to identify linguistic expressions used to facilitate cheating in examinations. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The researcher used random sampling to obtain the sample. The study involved 350 students from Dar es Salaam regional centers of the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). The instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire. The data were analyzed through SPSS 16 version.  The study found that, the most common forms of body language used in cheating during examinations are facial expression (81.4%) and hand- finger gestures (62.3%).However, the majority of the students rated high on the positioning of the invigilator (91.1%), number of invigilators during invigilation (80.0%)and the angle one sat(57.7%) as reasons for the choice of body language in cheating during examination.Furthermore, the students gave linguistic expressions of thebody language used during cheating in examinations like attention (eye brow movement), ready to help someone (head movement up –down), I don’t know (body posture- up- down shoulder movement or right left of the head) wait (up and down of the hand palm.). It can be said that, cheating during examination is obvious.Use of certain body language depends on the needs and intention of the students involved in cheating. It is recommended thatthe invigilators should be keen when invigilating, and the institutions should make orientation to invigilators on languageand techniques used in cheating in examination.