Abstract:

The purpose of the (2022-24) research was to effectively collect and evaluate data for empirical evidence on the effects of a lockdown browser and video monitoring application on student performance within a longitudinal sample of university-level students. The sample consisted of 124 students, ages 19-24, enrolled over six semesters in a junior-level social science research methods course at a state university. This 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 confirm significant effects on student performance by the timing and extent of lockdown browser and monitor application in relation to test completion times, test scores, and final course grades. Implications for educational processes as well as societal conventions are evident.

Keywords:

Technology, student performance, criminal justice.