1 CHAPTER III Research Methodology This chapter outlines the research methods used to accomplish the study's objectives and address the research questions. The main objective of this research is to investigate the characteristics that affect employees' inclinations to participate in dishonest behaviors in e-learning environments. This study specifically investigates the influence of pressures, opportunities, and rationalization on these behaviors. This research makes use of a research technique that is both methodical and comprehensive in order to investigate the underlying causes and linkages that serve as the foundation for the study's primary purposes. For the purpose of ensuring that the findings are accurate and reliable, selecting appropriate research methodologies is completely essential. In addition to providing a comprehensive review of the research design, this section offers a comprehensive explanation of the procedures that were utilized to collect, analyze, and interpret the data. In addition, the research procedures that were chosen are in agreement with the objectives and questions of the study, which makes it possible to conduct an in-depth investigation of the phenomenon that is being examined. III.1 Research Design The research design of this study is methodically designed to examine the impact of pressures, opportunities, and rationalisation on employees' desire to engage in 2 dishonest acts in e-learning environments. This section provides an overview of the selected study design, encompassing the research kind, the methodological approach, and the justification for these decisions. This study utilises a quantitative research methodology, which is suitable for analysing the connections between many variables and for evaluating hypotheses based on established theories (Bell et al., 2022). The quantitative method enables the gathering and examination of numerical data, which aids in the detection of patterns and the assessment of correlations between variables (Nardi, 2018). This approach is well- suited for the study's objectives, which involve analysing the impact of certain elements (pressures, opportunities, rationalisation) on intentions to engage in dishonest behaviour and establishing the collective predictive ability of these aspects. Moreover, this study utilises a survey-based research Surveys are a highly efficient method of gathering data from a sizable sample, offering a comprehensive comprehension of the phenomena being studied (Pandey & Pandey, 2021). This method enables the effective collection of data on employees' perceptions and intentions regarding dishonest behaviours in e-learning. 3 III.2 Research Constructs This study investigates several variables to comprehend the aspects that impact employees' behavioural intentions to participate in cheating behaviours in e-learning settings. The main variables of interest, along with the control variables, are listed below. The tools utilised in this study were derived from a prior investigation conducted by (Bucciol et al., 2020) and were assessed using 5-point Likert scales. Table.III.1 Constructs and Description Constructs Description Items Pressure External or internal demands that push employees towards dishonest behaviour 1. I don’t have time to finish E- learning program. 2. I have difficulties completing the e-learning while working. 3. Doing e-learning adding my workload Opportunities Aspects of the e- learning system that make dishonesty easier 1. I can rely on my work mates to finish the e-learning evaluation 2. I can ask my work mate about the answer of e-learning assessment. 3. My friend is always able to help me to finish e-learning. 4. There are so many opportunities to cheat system 4 Constructs Description Items of e-learning Rationalization Justifications employees use to legitimize their dishonest actions 1. Everyone in my workplace is cheating in completing the e- learning. 2. I believe that cheating is just small cheat. 3. I ask for someone else help in completing e-learning just to get it done. Behavioural Intention to Dishonest The likelihood of employees engaging in dishonest behaviour. 1. Conducting dishonest behavior in e-learning is wrong. 2. Most likely I will cheat in e- learning assessment. 3. I will ask my friend to do the e- learning for me. 4. I will ask the answer of e- learning assessment to my work mate. III.3 Control variables This study also included the control variables in conducting the multiple regression analysis. In this thesis, the control variables are gender, age group, education, and years of working. Control variables, usually referred to as covariates, are variables that are used into a multiple regression analysis to address any confounding issues (Bell et al., 2022). The inclusion of these variables serves the purpose of isolating the impact of the 5 independent variables of interest on the dependent variable, while they are not the main focus of the study (Pandey & Pandey, 2021). Researchers try to mitigate bias in estimating the associations between the key independent factors and the dependent variable by controlling for these variables. Furthermore, the inclusion of control variables in the regression model enhances its explanatory power by providing a more comprehensive explanation of the variance in the dependent variable (Bell et al., 2018). By incorporating control variables, the internal validity of the study is enhanced, guaranteeing that the observed effects are truly attributed to the independent variables under investigation and not influenced by uncontrolled factors (Hünermund & Louw, 2023). As a result, the findings of the regression analysis become more dependable and applicable, offering a strong foundation for drawing conclusions and making policy suggestions. When conducting multiple regression analysis, the control variables are included alongside the primary independent variables. The regression equation can be specified as follows: 6 Y = β0 + β1X1 + β2X2 + β3C1 + β4C2 + ….. + . Notes: • Y is dependent variable • X1 and X2 are the independent variables • C1 and C2 are the control variables • β is the coefficients represent the impact of each independent variable and control variable on the dependent variable. • . is the error term III.4 Data Collection Data was gathered through the utilization of a survey questionnaire, which was disseminated to the research participants via Google Forms. The selection of this online survey platform was based on its user-friendly interface, wide availability, and capability to produce individualized links for every participant (Jaiswal, 2024). Google Forms streamlined the process of managing and analysing the gathered data. Furthermore, to contact the research participants, the authors used a research assistants to hand out the surveys and ensure they reached their intended audience. The distribution of the questionnaire involved generating a link using Google Forms and then sending it to participants through the WhatsApp application. The selection of this method was based on its extensive adoption and ease of use, ensuring a high rate of response (Neo et al., 2022). 7 Also, research assistant conducted a follow-up with participants who had not answered after one week of receiving the questionnaire link. This subsequent action was essential to guarantee a substantial rate of response and the gathering of a sample that accurately represents the whole population. In addition, the author closely observed the responses on a daily basis, making sure that any problems encountered by the respondents were swiftly attended to. This proactive strategy facilitated the continuous progress of data collecting and guaranteed the comprehensiveness of the dataset. III.5 Data Analysis The data analysis for this study entails employing several statistical techniques to tackle the research objectives and provide answers to the research questions. The analysis will be performed utilising statistical SPSS software, and will adhere to a systematic approach as described below: Descriptive statistics Descriptive statistics will be calculated to give a thorough summary of the sample's characteristics. This will encompass calculations of central tendency, namely the mean, median, and mode, as well as measurements of variability, such as the standard deviation and range (George & Mallery, 2018). These calculations and measurements will be applied to continuous variables, such as age. Categorical variables, such as gender, will be used to build frequency distributions. These statistics will provide 8 valuable information on the demographic characteristics of the respondents and the overall patterns observed in the data. Analysis of reliability In order to evaluate the reliability of the research measurement, Cronbach's alpha will be computed for each of the scales employed in the questionnaire. An acceptable Cronbach's alpha value is 0.70 or greater, showing strong internal consistency among the items within each scale (Hair Jr et al., 2017). Regression analysis involving multiple independent variables. The study will apply multiple regression analysis to further examine the direct impact of pressures, opportunities, and rationalisation on employees' behavioural intention. This study will facilitate the identification of the specific impact of each predictor variable on the result variable. Multiple regression analysis is a statistical technique that examines the relationship between one dependent variable and two or more independent variables. It expands on the simple linear regression model by allowing for many predictors, resulting in a more thorough study of the factors impacting the dependent variable. A multiple regression equation generally takes the following form: 9 Y = β0 + β1X1 + β2X2 + β3C1 + β4C2 + ….. βnXn + . • Y is dependent variable • X1 , X2 , ….Xn are the independent variables • C1 and C2 are the control variables • β1 β2, β3…. are the coefficients that represent the impact of each independent variable on the dependent variable. • . is the error term Figure III.1 Flowchart Research Method 10 This thesis provides a clear and organized visual depiction of the research process through the incorporation of a flowchart of research methods into the document. This flowchart concisely presents each step of the approach, demonstrating the coherent sequence and interconnectedness of different phases of the study. By presenting a visual overview, it improves understanding and enables readers to swiftly comprehend the overall research design.