Padron, M., Grabsch, D. K., Guillory, J. D., & Wilson, B. J. (2026). Patterns and trends of testing irregularities experienced by university-based testing centers. National College Testing Association Journal, 7(1), 4-27.

Research suggests that a significant majority of undergraduate college students in the United States have engaged in various forms of academic misconduct. The need to explore academic integrity and testing irregularities is important in order to update our collective understanding
of the field, especially following the forced transitions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We employed a cross-sectional descriptive research design using a web-based survey to understand the perceived testing irregularities in academic testing centers before and after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the testing irregularities framework from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), we sorted the perceived testing irregularities into procedural irregularities and misconduct irregularities. Procedural irregularities occur when testing personnel fail to follow
testing procedures, and misconduct irregularities occur when students fail to follow testing procedures. Our findings indicated a perceived increase in testing irregularities following the pandemic, with the use of unauthorized items and unallowable assistance being the most
frequent irregularity categories. We also provide examples of the most frequent and novel testing irregularity incidents reported by testing administrators. Findings can aid test administrators, testing associations, and third-party testing vendors in updating policies and practices to ensure test integrity.

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