Relationship between religious commitment and academic integrity in orthodox Jewish high school students

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the relationship between religious commitment, self-efficacy, and academic dishonesty among Orthodox Jewish high school students. Utilizing the JewBALE 2.0 survey data from 18 Modern Orthodox high schools, this study examines whether higher religious commitment and self-efficacy correlate with lower instances of academic dishonesty. The sample comprises 1,341 students, providing a rich dataset for analysis. Methodological approaches include multiple regression analysis and the Barron Kenny method of mediation to explore predictive relationships and the mediating role of self-efficacy. Results indicate that religious commitment significantly predicts reduced academic dishonesty, while gender does not significantly alter this association. Furthermore, self-efficacy partially mediates the relationship between religious commitment and academic dishonesty. These findings highlight the complex relationship between individual belief systems and ethical behaviors in an academic context, contributing to the broader discourse on moral development in adolescence. This research holds implications for possible educational strategies aimed at fostering academic integrity within religious educational environments.