How has the contract cheating industry been changing in light of the gig economy, often characterised by low paid flexible working? This talk explores the world of essay mills, with particular reference to work on the academic writers who are keeping the industry moving, revealing that the pay is low and that students choosing to contract cheat may not be hiring the writers who they think they are.
Contract Cheating in the Gig Economy - International Center for Academic Integrity Conference - New Orleans, USA - 6 March 2019
1. Contract Cheating In The
Gig Economy
Dr Thomas Lancaster
http://thomaslancaster.co.uk
International Center for Academic Integrity Annual Conference
New Orleans, LA, USA
Friday, 8 March 2019
3. Contract Cheating
A student pays or engages a
third party to create their
academic work for them
(or attempts to do so)
4. Dr Thomas Lancaster
Senior Teaching Fellow (Student Support) at Imperial College London, UK
Computer Scientist, interested in ethics and professionalism
Researcher of academic integrity subjects since 2000
PhD in plagiarism detection
‘Discovered’ contract cheating
Tweet to me:
@DrLancaster
#contractcheating
6. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/uk-university-essay-cheating-spam
“You know car
dealers, drug dealers?
I’m an essay dealer.” “Some of them can’t find a good
job. They want to sit at home and
just write some essays and this way
can help them afford their
expenses. People like me provide
the employment opportunity for
them.”
Essay dealer claims to have started at university,
now oversees 80 writers, collectively earning
around $300,000 USD per year (or $3750 USD each)
8. We have only just begun to talk
about the ghost writers…
…but to address contract cheating, we need to know:
• who are these firms and individuals?
• why are they willing to help students to cheat?
• how do they advertise to students?
• why do students use these services?
• how can we address the supply side of the market?
9. Some Sources
My Research Papers
Lancaster, T. (2018). Profiling the international academic ghost writers who
are providing low-cost essays and assignments for the contract cheating
industry. Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society,
https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-04-2018-0040.
Lancaster, T. (2019). The emergence of academic ghost writers from India in
the international contract cheating industry, International Journal of Indian
Culture and Business Management, http://10.1504/IJICBM.2019.10016671 (in
press).
My Blog
http://thomaslancaster.co.uk/blog
For instance - How Kenya Now Leads The World In Enabling Contract
Cheating
My Slide Archive
https://www.slideshare.net/thomaslancaster
And my own experience researching and working in this field since the early
part of the century
13. Groups of
Writers internationally
qualifiedstudent
peers
would-be
academics
the desperate
careerists
friends and
family
business
opportunistsaccidental
previous
graduates
Lancaster, T. (2018). Profiling the international academic ghost writers who are providing low-
cost essays and assignments for the contract cheating industry. Journal of Information,
Communication and Ethics in Society, https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-04-2018-0040.
14. Groups of
Writers internationally
qualifiedstudent
peers
would-be
academics
the desperate
careerists
friends and
family
business
opportunistsaccidental
previous
graduates
Lancaster, T. (2018). Profiling the international academic ghost writers who are providing low-
cost essays and assignments for the contract cheating industry. Journal of Information,
Communication and Ethics in Society, https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-04-2018-0040.
15. “I wrote many works
for other students, also
at high school, it’s very
often”
Final SEEPPAI Report
http://www.plagiarism.cz/seeppai Comment From A South East Europe Focus Group
Students Write For
Other Students
19. For Some It Is A Growing Business
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2187421/meet-homework-guns-hire-helping-international-students-cheat
Link between Hong Kong writers and UK students
Students pay $300 USD for a 2000 word essay
Writer receives $160 USD
Owners receive $140 USD
20. Customer Paid $165 USD
Kenyan Writer Paid $18 USD
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/02/19/cheating-at-u-of-t
“The promise was that I work for him,
then he can send me a formal job
offer for me to immigrate to Canada.”
23. Low End Workers In
Essay Factories Paid $4
USD For 2000 Words
http://thomaslancaster.co.uk/blog/buy-an-essay-essay-mills-and-
contract-cheating-pricing
32. The Providers On Fiverr.com
The typical active provider has generated $2812.50 USD of revenue (93
of these providers identified)
Typical price point $31.73 USD per 1,000 words (but can be cheaper)
Teams operate on Fiverr.com and there are links to essay mills
Non-essay assessments available, including business plans, homework
exercises, presentation slides and personal statements
Typical provider locations Kenya, USA, Pakistan, India
35. Alternative Site (Preview)
Freelancer.com – providers bid to complete jobs for customers
20 prolific providers from India identified, had each completed an
average of 176.3 academic writing projects
Majority of customers from USA, UK and Australia (163 out of 301
unique customers from recent projects)
Many have repeat customers (and keep the project information
private)
Average price point $29.44 USD per 1,000 words
Lancaster, T. (2019). The emergence of academic ghost writers from India in the international
contract cheating industry, International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management,
http://10.1504/IJICBM.2019.10016671 (in press).
36. General Observations
The contract cheating
industry through
outsourcing sites is well-
developed, with local
arrangements in place
The pricing of
assignments is low and
affordable by students
(and their supporters)
Providers claim to be
highly qualified,
including MBAs, PhDs
and international
qualifications
All indications are that
writers can turnaround
assignments quickly,
displaying only
superficial knowledge
43. “Jazz Up” Academic
Integrity
Work with students so they see
academic integrity as a desirable
development that they want to be
involved with – not a mandatory
hurdle that they have to pass
44. Connect With Me
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