Student cheating and attitude: A function of classroom control technique

The effects of a teacher's classroom utilization of certain means of social influence, i.e., bases of social power (reward, coercive, referent, legitimate, and informational), upon the level of student cheating and attitude of the student toward the teacher are examined. A total of 588 white, middle-class fourth-sixth grade students participated in the study. The findings reveal significant differences in both student cheating and attitude as a function of power base strategy. Coercive power produces both the least cheating and the most favorable attitudes. A significant positive correlation (p < .01) was obtained between the measures of student cheating and attitude for the six treatment groups utilized. Precautions as to the interpretation and possible application of the findings are noted.