Social Problems of Iran

Qualitative Analysis of Students' Experiences with Outsourcing Thesis Writing

Authors

Reza Hemmati 1
Maryam Baharlouei 2

1 Associate Professor of Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

2 PhD in Sociology, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

10.61186/jspi.16.1.265
Abstract
Dissertation outsourcing, a severe form of contract cheating and ghostwriting, poses a significant threat to academic integrity and the credibility of higher education both in Iran and globally. This issue has intensified over recent decades with the growth of the black market for dissertation writing in Iran, underscoring the need to explore its underlying motives. This qualitative study employed thematic analysis to investigate the experiences of 13 master's degree students from Isfahan universities who had entirely outsourced their dissertations. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Brown and Clarke's (2012) six-step approach. The findings were distilled into six main themes: “Meaningless thesis,” “Challenging daily life,” “Culture of cheating,” “Communication disorder,” “Learning challenges,” and “Decline of scientific values.” The results revealed that outsourcing stems from a complex interplay of individual factors (e.g., financial difficulties, inadequate research skills) and environmental factors (e.g., weak academic supervision, commodification of education). Unlike previous studies that concentrated on structural factors, this research delved into the lived experiences of students within the socio-cultural context of Iran using a qualitative approach, highlighting the influence of teacher-student relationships and the culture of cheating. The findings underscore the necessity to redefine the role of the thesis, enhance supervision, and instill scientific ethics to prevent such fraud. This study contributes to educational policy-making aimed at combating ghostwriting and lays the groundwork for future research on the role of technology and gender differences.



Extended Abstract

1. Introduction

Research constitutes a fundamental component of universities and higher education institutions, with postgraduate programs playing a pivotal role in this field. The primary indicator of research within postgraduate education and the most significant scholarly endeavor for students across all disciplines is the dissertation. A dissertation is a comprehensive report detailing the resolution of a research question or problem that a scholar has undertaken and completed (Shelby, 1990). The process of writing a dissertation is a critical milestone for graduate students, as it encapsulates all the knowledge acquired throughout their academic tenure. Despite the dissertation’s indisputable significance, recent decades have witnessed the emergence of contract cheating—encompassing ghostwriting and outsourcing—as a recognized international issue and formidable challenge to academic integrity. This phenomenon has been exacerbated by transformations in university education systems, including massification, privatization, monetization, internationalization, and increased integration of technology (York et al., 2022). Numerous studies have documented the adverse effects of contract cheating on students and universities. Consequently, rigorous scientific investigations into dissertation outsourcing are imperative. The central research question of this study is as follows: What motivates master's degree graduates to outsource dissertation writing and engage in contract cheating?



2. Methodology

This study was conducted using a qualitative approach. Qualitative research focuses on developing a deeper understanding of complex phenomena that can be difficult to measure empirically (Johnson & Waterfield, 2004; Walsh et al., 2020). Participants were purposively sampled. The participants in this study were 13 students in master ’sand doctoral programs at universities and higher education institutions in the country who had outsourced their dissertation writing. Data were collected through in-person and online semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain responses. This semi-structured approach allows to one the one hand having key questions that define the specific areas that are discussed, on the other hand the chance to get more detailed responses by diverging. It also allows the interviewer to collect valuable information that was not considered in the discussed context (Gill et al., 2008). The interviewer tried to conduct the interviews in a safe, comfortable, and quiet place to obtain the most important information without any noise. The interviews began with general questions and then more specific and relevant questions were asked to get the most important information. Each interview lasted approximately 60 to 90 minutes. All participants provided informed consent. In addition, all information, scripts, and recordings were kept completely confidential by the researchers. The identities of the participants were not disclosed, and aliases were used to comply with the privacy principle. All participants were assured of the confidentiality and anonymity of their information by using pseudonyms in published reports.



3. Findings

The findings were distilled into six main themes: “Meaninglessness of dissertation,” “Challenging daily life,” “Culture of cheating,” “Communication disorder,” “Learning challenges,” and “Decline of scientific values.” The results revealed that outsourcing stems from a complex interplay of individual factors (e.g., financial difficulties, inadequate research skills) and environmental factors (e.g., weak academic supervision, commodification of education). Unlike previous studies that concentrated on structural factors, this research delved into the lived experiences of students within the socio-cultural context of Iran using a qualitative approach, highlighting the influence of teacher-student relationships and the culture of cheating.



4. Conclusion

Students often choose to outsource their dissertation because of their perception of its purpose. Rather than seeing the dissertation as a chance for educational, scientific, research, and career advancement, many students regard it as an insignificant task that lacks real value. Participants noted that writing a dissertation does not equip them for the job market, enhance their knowledge or skills, and, more importantly, their findings are not utilized and, as they put it, merely "gather dust in the library corner."

Another reason for outsourcing is the various challenges that students encounter in their daily lives. Some students face numerous issues, such as health problems, mental health challenges, and financial difficulties, or have numerous commitments, such as marriage, employment, and various work duties, which leave them with insufficient time to write a dissertation, even if they possess the necessary research skills. For these individuals, outsourcing is a strategy for managing their lives. In such situations, engaging in scientific discourse becomes irrelevant to students. Furthermore, the prospect of engaging in scientific work and producing a strong dissertation is uncertain and not guaranteed, and the cost of crafting a high-quality dissertation is significantly higher than working and other responsibilities, making dissertation writing seem unreasonable and illogical. The situation becomes even more complex when marriage is combined with employment. Naturally, this scenario has different implications for men and women.

One contributing factor to the outsourcing of dissertation work is the breakdown in communication between students and their professors. The supervisor’s role can significantly influence this decision in several ways. First, limited access to the supervisor and the inability to receive necessary feedback and support, often due to the supervisor's heavy workload and numerous administrative responsibilities, can prompt students to seek external assistance to complete their work more efficiently and accurately. Additionally, certain behaviours exhibited by professors, such as excessive strictness or lack of expertise in the relevant field, may drive students to outsource their work. Such professors may inadvertently or deliberately contribute to this trend through their unavailability and lack of effective guidance. Overall, factors such as inadequate follow-up on student progress, insufficient support, delays in providing feedback, lack of timely guidance, poor collaboration, and the provision of confusing or unhelpful feedback were cited by participants as justifications for outsourcing dissertation.

The prevalence of academic dishonesty is a significant factor contributing to students' propensity to outsource their work. From the students' perspective, there appears to be a lack of stringent oversight and regulation concerning the dissertation writing and defence process. Even when violations are identified, there is an absence of serious, public, or rigorous consequences for either the student or the professor, leading to the perception that such infractions are inconsequential. According to the participants, outsourcing dissertation work is not only uncondemned at their university but is also perceived as a normative and widespread practice among students. Consequently, students not only engage in this behaviour but also advocate it to their peers. Another factor influencing students' inclination to outsource, as perceived by participants, is the diminishing value placed on academic integrity and the transformation of universities into profit-driven entities. This shift is attributed to the increasing emphasis on revenue generation at any cost. In this context, universities regard students as customers, akin to commodities and sources of income, and strive to satisfy them by adhering to minimal standards, often at the expense of quality of education. Conversely, students, recognizing this dynamic, focus primarily on obtaining grades and certificates rather than on genuine learning and knowledge acquisition.

In general, preventing dissertation ghost writing, poses greater challenges than other forms of academic dishonesty and unethical behaviour, as conventional methods are insufficient for its detection. Nonetheless, certain measures can be implemented to mitigate the demand for outsourced dissertation writing services.

Keywords

Dissertation outsourcing
Contract cheating
Ghostwriting
Qualitative Inquiry
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  • Receive Date 08 June 2026
  • First Publish Date 08 June 2026