Bouville, Mathieu. "Cheating and Neutralization." Diss. University of Cambridge, 2008. Cheating and Neutralization. University of Cambridge. Web. 17 Feb. 2010.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Blog #7- Annotate two sources
Storch, Jason B., Eric A. Storch, and Philip Clark. "Academic Dishonesty and Neutralization Theory: A Comparison of Intercollegiate Athletes and Nonathletes." Journal of College Student Development 43.6 (2002): 921-30. OmniFile Full TextMega. Web. 16 Feb. 2010. This study connects the Neutralization Theory, proposed by Gresham Sykes and David Matza, to the endemic of academic dishonesty in colleges and university. The study lists four main techniques used by students when rationalizing their dishonest behavior; denial or responsibility, denial or injury, condemnation of the condemners, and appeal to higher loyalties. The study went one step further and specifically applied the Neutralization Theory to academic dishonesty of college athletes. The results indicated that, when compared to nonathletes, athletes reported higher rates of academic dishonesty, which reaffirmed results of other studies dealing with this topic. The results also indicated that, in terms of the Neutralization Theory, athletes were more likely to use techniques to rationalize academic dishonest acts, with the most common technique being appeal to higher loyalties. This means that most athletes who commit academic dishonest acts are likely to rationalize their acts based on the actions of their peers. This article provides a strong and interesting starting point for my research project and it provides valid and helpful references.
Bouville, Mathieu. "Cheating and Neutralization." Diss. University of Cambridge, 2008. Cheating and Neutralization. University of Cambridge. Web. 17 Feb. 2010.. Mathieu Bouville critiques the use of the concept of Neutralization to study cheating at college universities. He argues that there are no clear, concise definitions about Neutralization and college cheating offered by any studies. This is going to be a good writing to use because it offers a counterpoint to the study done by Storch et al. (Academic Dishonesty and Neutralization Theory: A Comparison of Intercollegiate Athletes and Nonathletes). Bouville writes that the studies surrounding the Neutralization Theory and academic dishonesty is paradoxical because students actively partake in something they know is wrong and should not partake in. He uses many of the same references used in the Storch et al. study. This is a great resource to use because it offers a counterpoint and it is opposed to the views that are supported by my research. It will strengthen my own argument if I am able to break down Bouville’s argument.
Bouville, Mathieu. "Cheating and Neutralization." Diss. University of Cambridge, 2008. Cheating and Neutralization. University of Cambridge. Web. 17 Feb. 2010.
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I'm impressed by how you are already engaged with arguments at the level of the frame -- focusing on "neutralization theory" and its applicability to student attitudes toward academic dishonesty. This is very fertile territory and a sophisticated approach to the paper. You might find some other scholars applying neutralization theory in the context of college sports (students probably use it to explain their focus on sports over academics) or discussing how it explains student cheating behavior in school. You have all the key ingredients to a stellar paper -- you just need a case to examine in light of neutralization theory. You certainly could interview a college athlete, but you might do better to find a documentary film about student athletes or to find an autobiography of an athlete that exhibits this neutralization discourse.
ReplyDeleteFascinating! Do you mind if I discuss your example in class? I'm thinking of tying it in with some of the student papers I received for the Analytic Essay, which work to justify the value of partying and focusing on "student life" at the expense of academics. One student even wrote that "you learn just as much from student life as academics" -- and Nathan found something similar in her research. I think this is all neutralization discourse, intended to justify student behavior and to deny its effect on long term success.
Thank you so much for the feedback! I would not mind if you used my posting in class at all. Also, thank you very much for the idea of focusing on the Neutralization theory, i initially did not think of that at all; however it is proving to be some very interesting reading material!
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