TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ……………………………………………………………………………………. iv
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ………………………………………………………………………………. viii
LIST OF TABLES ………………………………………………………………………………………………. ix
SECTION
1. INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 1
2. LITERATURE REVIEW ……………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.1. COMPUTER SECURITY DECISION-MAKING …………………………………….. 3
2.2. SUSCEPTIBILITY TO COMPUTER SECURITY THREATS …………………… 4
2.3. FRAMING EFFECTS IN CYBERSECURITY DECISION-MAKING ……….. 7
3. THEORETICAL FOUNDATION AND HYPOTHESES ……………………………….. 11
3.1. THEORETICAL FOUNDATION …………………………………………………………. 11
3.1.1. Prospect Theory …………………………………………………………………………. 11
3.1.2. Theory of Reasoned Action and Theory of Planned Behavior ………….. 14
3.1.3. Technology Acceptance Model ……………………………………………………. 17
3.2. HYPOTHESES AND RESEARCH MODEL ………………………………………….. 18
4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY …………………………………………………………………. 23
4.1. SUBJECTS …………………………………………………………………………………………. 23
4.2. RESEARCH PROCEDURES ……………………………………………………………….. 23
4.3. VARIABLES AND OPERATIONALIZATION ……………………………………… 24
4.3.1. Framing …………………………………………………………………………………….. 25
4.3.2. Base Size …………………………………………………………………………………… 25
4.4. MEASUREMENT ……………………………………………………………………………….. 27
4.4.1. Perceived Risk …………………………………………………………………………… 27
4.4.2. Download Intention ……………………………………………………………………. 28
4.4.3. Download Decision …………………………………………………………………….. 28
4.4.4. General Information Security Awareness ………………………………………. 28
4.4.5. Self-Efficacy ……………………………………………………………………………… 29
4.4.6. Cybersecurity Awareness …………………………………………………………….. 30
4.4.7. Internet Structural Assurance ……………………………………………………….. 30
4.4.8. General Risk-Taking Tendencies ………………………………………………….. 30
4.4.9. Computer Security Risk-Taking Tendencies ………………………………….. 31
4.4.10. Framing Manipulation Check ……………………………………………………… 32
4.4.11. Subject Background Questionnaire ……………………………………………… 32
5. DATA ANALYSIS ……………………………………………………………………………………. 33
5.1. DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION OF SUBJECTS ………………………………. 33
5.2. MEASUREMENT VALIDATION ………………………………………………………… 36
5.3. REPEATED MEASURES ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE …………………………. 40
5.3.1. Check for Assumptions ……………………………………………………………….. 41
5.3.2. Results of Repeated Measures ANOVA ………………………………………… 43
5.3.2.1. Tests of between-subjects effects (framing) …………………………43
5.3.2.2. Tests of within-subjects effects (base size) …………………………..47
5.4. MIXED MODEL REGRESSION ANALYSIS ……………………………………….. 50
6. DISCUSSIONS …………………………………………………………………………………………. 53
7. LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH ………………………………………………. 55
8. CONCLUSIONS ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 57
APPENDICES
A. SCENARIO DETAILS ………………………………………………………………………………. 60
B. EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS ………………………………………………………………. 62
C. QUESTIONNAIRE ……………………………………………………………………………………. 66
D. QUESTIONNAIRE OF DEMOGRAPHICS INFORMATION ……………………….. 69
BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 72
VITA ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 77