This presentation considers the problem of contract cheating and how this remains a threat to academic integrity, even after students have been able to use ChatGPT and generative artificial intelligence. The slides were delivered as the keynote presentation for the University of Bradford’s Contract Cheating Day.

1. A World Without
Contract Cheating?
Dr Thomas Lancaster
Imperial College London UK
Keynote presentation for University of Bradford
Contract Cheating Training Day

2. Dr Thomas Lancaster
Computer Scientist at Imperial College
London
Academic integrity researcher and speaker
Introduced the term contract cheating to
academia (along with Robert Clarke)
Current research focuses on the impact of
artificial intelligence, and on partnership
working with students
http://www.thomaslancaster.co.uk
Twitter: @DrLancaster
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3. Contract Cheating (Traditional)
Assessed work is being
completed by someone
other than the expected
student
This may or may not
involve the exchange of
money
This may or may not
involve attempts to solicit
cheating

4. Contract Cheating (2023) ?
Assessed work is being
completed by something
other than the expected
student

5. (Mis)use of Artificial Intelligence
Assessed work is being
completed by something
other than the expected
student

6. Contract Cheating/Artificial Intelligence
• Why is this behaviour taking place?
• Is there any value to this behaviour?
• Can the student still learn through this
process?
• What are the risks of not addressing this?
• Are other students being disadvantaged as a
result?

10. essays
reports
scripts
exam answers
presentation
slides
entrance applications
dissertations statistical analysis
…and much more
What can students buy?

11. Research Findings (Pre-AI)
• Massive competitive business, high demand
for work, high demand to work as a writer,
low cost to buy work, low pay for writers
• Spans disciplines, but most common in
Business discipline
• Heavily marketed towards students who
speak English as a second language

13. The Disruptor – Generative AI
We don’t know how this has changed the
contract cheating industry
• Are students now using AI themselves?
• Are contract cheating providers/writers
using AI?
• Are previous research results still valid?

14. Q: Why did the student
hire a writer for their
philosophy assignment?
A: They needed help
finding the ‘meaning of
life’… and a passing
grade.
Joke generated by ChatGPT

15. You can generate slides…

16. essays
reports
scripts
exam answers
presentation
slides
entrance applications
dissertations statistical analysis
but with limitations…
What can students generate?

17. Working with generative AI
requires knowledge substantially
beyond hiring a contract cheating
provider:
• Prompt engineering
• Understanding the limitations
of AI
• Language proficiency
• A logical brain

18. Is This Acceptable?
Hiring an editor
to improve
academic work?
Using
generative AI to
improve
academic work?

19. How do we address
contract cheating and
AI misuse?

20. No single solution – some ideas…
Develop internal policies and strategies
Engage with academic integrity values
Reduce the benefits of misconduct
Ensure that support is in place
and other approaches…

21. Determine the barrier
between stopping the
misuse of AI and
assessing student
engagement with AI

22. How do we ensure that
students are actively
engaged in the
assessment process
(not just submitting a
product)?

23. What do we do if we
spot indicators that
suggest a lack of
engagement?

24. Are exams the
solution?

25. What does an
authentic assessment
look like in the age of
AI?

26. https://www.memecam.io

27. Engage With Students As Our Academic
Integrity Partners And Advocates

28. There are
real risks
for students

29. A world without
contract cheating may
never be possible, but
we can reduce the
impact of a deceptive
and dangerous
industry

30. Connect With Dr Thomas Lancaster
My Email: thomas@thomaslancaster.co.uk
My Website: http://thomaslancaster.co.uk
My Blog: http://thomaslancaster.co.uk/blog
My LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/thomaslancaster
My Twitter: @DrLancaster
Slide Archive: http://www.slideshare.net/ThomasLancaster
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