Cheating on Unproctored Internet Intelligence Tests: Strategies and Effects

A crucial issue concerning unproctored Internet-based testing (UIT) of cognitive ability is its susceptibility to cheating. Whereas evidence indicates that cheating during UIT occurs, there is still little information about possible cheating strategies and their effects on (sub)test performance. Using a randomized experimental design, this study investigated the direct effects of cheating on an Internet-based test of cognitive ability by comparing test performance of cheaters (participants who were instructed to cheat) and successful cheaters (participants who thought their cheating had been successful) with that of non-cheaters. Successful cheaters obtained substantially higher scores compared to cheaters who thought they had been unsuccessful in cheating and non-cheaters. The effect of cheating depended on subtest type and the number and type of cheating strategy being used. Suggestions are made for further research and for safeguarding future UIT procedures from cheating.