Journal article 145 views 24 downloads
Student cognitive enhancement with non-prescribed modafinil: is it cheating? A survey study
International Journal for Educational Integrity, Volume: 21, Issue: 1
Swansea University Author:
Phil Newton
-
PDF | Version of Record
© The Author(s) 2024. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Download (1.29MB)
DOI (Published version): 10.1007/s40979-024-00174-3
Abstract
Modafinil is a prescription-only drug in most countries. It is mainly used to treat narcolepsy and sleep disorders, but it is also used, without a prescription, as a cognitive enhancer by ~ 10% of UK University students. Previous research has focused on the prevalence of, and motivations for, these...
| Published in: | International Journal for Educational Integrity |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1833-2595 |
| Published: |
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
2025
|
| Online Access: |
Check full text
|
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68641 |
| Abstract: |
Modafinil is a prescription-only drug in most countries. It is mainly used to treat narcolepsy and sleep disorders, but it is also used, without a prescription, as a cognitive enhancer by ~ 10% of UK University students. Previous research has focused on the prevalence of, and motivations for, these behaviours. Here we focused specifically on determining whether students view this behaviour as cheating. We used a scenario-based approach to quantify, and qualitatively understand, student views on this topic. Most students did not view this behaviour as cheating, in part due to similarities with freely available stimulants such as caffeine, and a view that cognitive enhancement does not confer new knowledge or understanding. Although a minority of students did view it as cheating, they also expressed strong views, based in part on basic questions of fairness and access. Few students did not have a view either way. These views remained largely unchanged even when presented with considerations of other moderators of the ethics of cognitive enhancement with modafinil. |
|---|---|
| Keywords: |
Modafinil; Smart drugs; Study aids; Cheating; Cognitive enhancers; Neuroenhancment; Academic integrity |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
No funding was received to support this study. Participant fees were paid using institutional funds of PMN to support the capstone project of AK. |
| Issue: |
1 |