<![CDATA[Abstrak Maraknya praktik contract cheating di kalangan mahasiswa merupakan bentuk kecurangan akademik yang berpotensi merusak integritas pendidikan tinggi. Penelitian kualitatif ini menggunakan pendekatan grounded theory dengan metode wawancara mendalam untuk mengeksplorasi karakteristik, dinamika perilaku, dan faktor-faktor yang memengaruhi contract cheating. Analisis data dilakukan menggunakan axial coding dan conditional/consequential coding. Partisipan dalam penelitian ini adalah mahasiswa yang pernah menggunakan layanan joki tugas, dengan rentang usia 18-25 tahun. Hasil penelitian mengidentifikasi dua tema utama dalam dinamika perilaku contract cheating: (1) Sikap terhadap contract cheating, di mana partisipan umumnya memiliki pandangan positif terhadap praktik ini; dan (2) Strategi regulasi perilaku, yang mencakup berbagai cara yang digunakan partisipan untuk menghindari deteksi. Selain itu, penelitian ini menemukan bahwa faktor pendorong contract cheating terdiri atas faktor internal dan eksternal. Faktor internal meliputi efikasi diri dan manajemen waktu, sedangkan faktor eksternal mencakup normalisasi contract cheating dalam lingkungan pertemanan serta kemudahan akses terhadap layanan tersebut. Temuan ini memberikan wawasan mendalam mengenai mekanisme yang menopang contract cheating dan menekankan pentingnya kebijakan institusional untuk menjaga integritas akademik. Kata Kunci: Contract Cheating, Grounded Theory, Joki Tugas, Kecurangan Akademik, Mahasiswa. AbstractThe prevalence of contract cheating among university students represents a form of academic dishonesty that threatens the integrity of higher education. This qualitative study employs a grounded theory approach using in-depth interviews to explore the characteristics, behavioral dynamics, and influencing factors of contract cheating. Data analysis was conducted using axial coding and conditional/consequential coding. The participants in this study were students aged 18–25 who had previously used academic ghostwriting services. The findings identify two main themes in the behavioral dynamics of contract cheating: (1) Attitudes toward contract cheating, where participants generally held positive views about this practice; and (2) Behavioral regulation strategies, which encompass various methods employed by participants to avoid detection. Furthermore, this study reveals that the driving factors behind contract cheating consist of both internal and external factors. Internal factors include self-efficacy and time management, while external factors involve the normalization of contract cheating within peer environments and the accessibility of such services. These findings provide in-depth insights into the mechanisms sustaining contract cheating and highlight the importance of institutional policies in maintaining academic integrity. Keywords: Academic Dishonesty; Academic Ghostwriter; Contract Cheating; Grounded Theory; University Students.]]>
