Policing Integrity: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of Varied Lockdown Browser Application Effects on Student Performance

The purpose of the research was to effectively collect and evaluate data for empirical evidence on the effects of a lockdown browser with video monitoring on student performance within a longitudinal trend sample of students enrolled over six semesters in a junior-level social science research methods course at a state university. The study builds on previous findings by evaluating the impact of proctoring tools based not only on their presence or absence, but also on the timing of their use within the semester. By doing so, it aims to provide nuanced insights into how digital surveillance tools affect performance, perceptions, and ethical development in higher education. The results indicate significant effects on student performance by the timing and extent of lockdown browser and monitor application in relation to test scores and completion times. Yet, they are offset by webcam observations of student behaviors. Implications for educational integrity principles and processes are evident.