How data forensics help root out certification cheaters

摘要

There's nothing quite like stirring the pot of controversy. Last month, Linda Musthaler's Cache Advance column addressed the issue of cheating on certification exams. Specifically, she said that using "study aids" (i.e.,stolen exams) that come from braindump Web sites could put a certification candidate at risk of being accused of cheating.The column was intended to inform people that many certifying agencies are now using data forensics to analyze test responses and look for extremely unusual behavior.As it turns out, people who use braindump materials often fall into this category.The ultimate penalty for cheating could be loss of certification with negative employment conse-quences.This assertion led to a reader backlash, with some people suggesting that the forensic analysis is inaccurate and would ensnare people who did not cheat in any way shape or form.