Action Research Plan: Operation Academic Integrity

"In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don't have the first, the other two will kill you." — Warren Buffet

Whenever a child takes on any academic endeavor the primary purpose is to learn.  Learning can occur in any number of ways but the one thing that is consistent throughout all of its varying forms is the responsibility each child has for their individual ‘academic honesty’ throughout the learning process.  At the heart of this responsibility lies the issue of ‘academic integrity’; the moral code or ethical policy of academia. This includes values such as avoidance of cheating or plagiarism; maintenance of academic standards; honesty and rigor in research and academic publishing.

The purpose of this action research study is to determine what the impact of the JPIIHS Academic Honor Code on academic dishonesty among students and measure the number of instances of cheating that occur following each Honor Code investigation.  The following research questions will be investigated:

1. What are the procedures for Suspected Violations of the Academic Honor Code?
2. Is there any correlation between Honor Code violators who accept or challenge the violation accusation?
3. How do hearing procedures affect the outcome of each Honor Code investigation decision?
4. Analyze the levels of disciplinary action as to their effectiveness in preventing repeat and future first time Honor Code violations.

The Research Plan...

School Vision: To develop leaders who are critical thinkers and effective communicators, committed to service and rooted in faith.

Goal: Determine what the impact of the JPIIHS Academic Honor Code on academic integrity among students.

Action Research:  Is there a relationship between the number of instances of academic dishonesty and Honor Code investigations/hearings?

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIMELINE	ASSESSMENT
Educate the student body about the academic honor code and its student body elected, student led committee.	Class Visits Accompany the Honor Code Student Committee will visit all Theology classes and educate the student body on the purpose of the Honor Code. Program Promotion Assist with the production of all Honor Code Program promotional materials Program Promotion Production Assist with the practicing of the Honor Code Student Committee delivery of the Honor Code Program promotional materials.	Class Visits *Time allotted/scheduled to attend each training session. *Any audio/visual teaching tools to facilitate in Honor Code education Program Promotion *Honor Code Program promotion production materials *Building space to produce promotional materials Program Promotion Production *Audio/Video technology to record Honor Code Program promotions rehearsals *Building space to produce promotional materials	Class Visits *Myself to record all data and evaluate presentation Honor Code Curriculum. *Honor Code Student Committee to present Honor Code Curriculum and answer any student body questions. Program Promotion *Myself to oversee/assist production of materials. *Honor Code Student Committee to produce production materials. Program Promotion Production *Myself to assist in and evaluate the rehearsal video production. *Honor Code Student Committee for the production and editing of the rehearsal videos.	All 3 Activities This Academic Honor Code Orientation process would begin the third week of school and would take 1 month to implement.	Class Visits *Observe/Document attentiveness and inquisitive interaction of student body to the Honor Code Program Presentation. Program Promotion Spell Check, proof, approve content, and observe student body observations of all Honor Code Program promotional materials. Program Polish Honor Code Student Committee peer rehearsal written critiques.
Develop an Honor Code Student Committee discussion forum to discuss/ provide data explaining student motivations for academic dishonesty.	Honor Code Committee Forum *Attend/Observe/record data from Honor Code Student Committee meetings as to when, why, and how students cheat. Honor Code Committee Peer Counseling Sessions *Attend/Observe/Record the peer to peer counseling session following each student Honor Code Violation.	Honor Code Committee Forum *Classroom, Advisory Class Period (20 minutes daily). *Researched questions to ask Committee *Digital resource to record and assess Committee Data Honor Code Committee Peer Counseling Sessions *Honor Code Counseling Session Expectations/Guidelines *Digital resource to record and assess Committee Data	Honor Code Committee Forum *Myself to record all needed data, Soryia Nelson; Honor Code Faculty Coordinator to facilitate the meetings, and the Honor Code Student Committee to share needed information.  Honor Code Committee Peer Counseling Sessions *Myself, Mrs. Nelson, Honor Code Student Committee, and Honor Code Violators	Both Activities Begin during the third week of the school year continuing throughout the 2011-2012 school year.	Honor Code Committee Forum *Evaluate instances/category of first time and repeat Honor Code violators for a 9 week grading period.  Assess data and repeat process for next 2 grading periods.              Honor Code Committee Peer Counseling Sessions *Construct and Utilize Counseling Session Evaluation Form to assess effectiveness of these sessions
Determine the validity of each accusation of academic dishonesty as well as assess the level of moral ineptitude involved.	Honor Code Violation Hearing Participation *Participate in the Hearing as a Panel Member (either three TRUTH students and two teachers, or two TRUTH students and three teachers) Honor Code Violation Hearing Facilitation           *Facilitate the process which involves all aspects of the hearing, provide the materials needed, time is kept, officiating to ensure procedural policies are kept.	Both Activities *Referring teacher’s hearing documentation            * Honor Council Report form *Note taking materials made available to entire panel	Both Activities *Panel of five (either three TRUTH students and two teachers, or two TRUTH students and three teachers) *Referring teacher *Student (must be present) *Parent or counselor (silent observer invited by student) *Coordinator of the Academic Honor Code or school Administrator  (silent observer)	Both Activities Begin with the first scheduled Honor Code Violation Hearing continuing throughout the 2011-2012 school year.	Both Activities *Assess the expedient nature of communication, discipline and the facilitation of the process by: *The referring teacher (if the teacher cannot be present the original office referral will be their statement) will have no more than 10 minutes to explain their position. *The student will have no more than 10 minutes to explain their position.  *Referring teacher is allowed a 5 minute rebuttal. *The student is allowed a 5 minute rebuttal. *Student and referring teacher are excused *Deliberation will last no longer than 15 minutes. *A majority decision  will determine if the student did or did not violate the Academic Honor Code *A unanimous decision will determine whether a school service project is warranted due to violation of the Academic Honor Code premise on lying. *The panel will complete the Honor Council Report form and return it to appropriate school personnel immediately after the hearing