One predictor of academic dishonesty that has been researched is the fraud triangle model (Macgregor & Stuebs, 2012). The fraud triangle includes three characteristics needed for cheating to occur which are incentive, opportunity, and rationalization. In the study, the researchers examined the relationship between the fraud triangle model and how this could lead to cheating behaviors. The first proposed component is an incentive. If an incentive is present, students are more likely to want to cheat. An incentive can be economic, an advancement in personal interest, or social, an advancement with peers. If a student strives for better grades they are motivated by economic incentives, while those that are peer pressured in to cheating or share
