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From: kens@hpldola.HP.COM (Ken Shrum)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Cheating on Programming Assignments (Honor System)
Message-ID: <11370004@hpldola.HP.COM>
Date: Thu, 14-May-87 12:50:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: hpldola.11370004
Posted: Thu May 14 12:50:35 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 17-May-87 11:52:34 EDT
References: <263@rruxa.UUCP>
Organization: HP Logic Design Oper. -ColoSpgs
Lines: 38

>> 	Maybe the honor system at stevens is a joke 'cause the students feel
>> it is a joke (or maybe just students without pride) but the honor code (in
>                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>      Or maybe because people are human and may give in to temptations,
>especially when under great stress.  Are you trying to tell me that there
>is something about the people who attend U of Va. that sets them apart
>from the rest of humanity?  I don't think it is a case of the system
>works just fine, its more like people don't get caught that often.

>George W. Leach

I don't think that the people at U of Va are different than anyone
else.  Honor systems seem to work when people believe that they do.
The honor system at Caltech is *extremely* successful, and I don't know
why.  My only guess is that everyone believes that everyone else is
abiding by the system and that noone is willing to risk the advantages
of the system.

When I was a freshman, my 3rd term Chemistry prof announced that the
midterm and final would be in class (unproctored) rather than take
home.  There was a buzz of conversation, and then a fellow stood up and
said "Excuse me, but we feel that you don't trust us." (to murmured
agreement).  Since that's been nine years now, you may gather that the
incident made quite an impression on me.  Yes, we were young and naive
in that trust wasn't involved, only convenience.

Interestingly enough, the honor system at Caltech seems to not work as
well among the graduate students.  Again, I don't know why, but I can
guess:  (1) there are *major* efforts made with incoming undergraduates
to educate them about the honor system;  (2) graduate students don't
believe that the honor system works, so it doesn't for them.

Honor systems can work well, I've seen it in action.  I'm sorry that
you don't believe that they can work.

	Ken Shrum
	hplabs!hpldola!kens