A phenomenological analysis of teachers’ perceptions of ethical factors affecting the teacher–student relationships

ABSTRACT As a culture-specific phenomenon, academic dishonesty (AD) remains an under-researched domain. The purpose of this study was to voice teachers’ perceptions of: (a) the influential factors contributing to AD, (b) the consequences of AD for the quality of teacher–student relationships (TSR), and (c) the specific strategies for regulating TSR. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, we attempted to present a detailed description of teachers’ lived experiences regarding the above aims. The participants (n = 26) were English language and Mathematics teachers with different personal and professional characteristics (M age = 33.59; novice = 12, experienced = 14) working in public high schools of Iran. Data was collected through intensive semi-structured interviewing and analyzed by a five-step approach applied to phenomenology in psychological research. Data analysis revealed three general themes regarding teachers’ perceptions with several components. We found that the lack of attention and intrinsic motivation were the prominent perceived factors with consequences for TSR. Also, personal talk and active supervision were the common techniques that teachers utilized with students who commit AD to manage and control the TSR quality. The results were discussed with reference to teachers’ academic discipline, gender, and teaching experience.