Your five-member class project group has been assigned to serve as consultants to another group. You are charged with observing this group, gathering data about it, evaluating the group’s communication, and making recommendations to improve the group’s functioning. The problem is that each of your project group members is very busy, and you’re having a hard time agreeing on a time to observe the other group.

Two of you are graduating at the end of the semester, and one of you, planning to spend the summer working in Europe, is scrambling to get all assignments finished in time to leave. Two members suggest making up data for your final project. The chances of getting caught are slim, and this “solution” would save you all several hours of observation and work. You personally strongly object to this form of cheating. For one thing, you don’t want to chance having a plagiarism charge against you. But mainly you object to this form of lying, and you don’t want to damage your relationship with your professor.

1. Do you speak or remain silent?

2. If you speak, what do you say?

3. What do you do if the entire group—except you—is in favor of falsifying data?

4. Do you talk to the teacher? Why or why not?