Today’s Solutions: March 30, 2026

Cheating is endemic among students, and is sometimes rampant even among teachers. Two decades of research show that this behavior is very dependent on goals. Short-term extrinsic goals such as getting good grades to avoid punishment or to obtain a reward provide a breeding ground for cheating. Students who have a strong desire to master new knowledge or skills, on the other hand, are less likely to cheat, research shows. What if the education system were to encourage and support those “mastery goals” among students? Here are some tips for educators who are curious to innovate to curb cheating in their class.

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