Resumen de Un análisis de la oferta en la industria de trabajos universitarios mediante técnicas cualitativas de pseudocompra

Majo Pallarés Maiques, Rosa María Torres Valdés, Carolina Lorenzo Álvarez, Cristina Cachero Castro , Covadonga Ordóñez García, Alba Santa Soriano, Lisset Marroquín Velásquez, Margoth Mena Young

• This paper presents the findings of a research project investigating the commodification of university academic works. The study begins with an in-depth analysis of psychological and sociological frameworks that elucidate the underlying motivations prompting students to acquire end-of-study projects, specifically thesis and dissertations. Central to this exploration are Merton’s theory of anomie, Lazarus and Folkman’s stress and coping theory, along with Kahneman and Tversky’s theory of behavioral economics. These theoretical lenses offer profound insights into the rationales guiding students’ decisions to engage in such transactions, notwithstanding the ethical and academic ramifications involved. Employing a qualitative research methodology, the study adopted a pseudo-purchase observation technique, simulating the acquisition of final projects across a selection of nine specialized firms. This approach facilitated a systematic data collection and clandestine scrutiny of the communicative strategies, customization of assignments to meet individual student requirements, and pricing models. The insights gleaned underscore the sophistication inherent in the communication and services rendered by these enterprises, evidencing a robust market adept at meeting student demands. In response to these observations, the article concludes with a suite of recommendations aimed at enhancing academic support services within educational institutions. These suggestions encompass the promotion of research and writing competencies, alongside the cultivation of an academic milieu that values authentic learning. Such strategies are posited as means to mitigate student reliance on these extrinsic services