Development and Evaluation on Cybersecurity Behaviour Measurement Instruments for Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Technological advancements from past to present have ushered the world into an era of rapid information exchange, establishing a networked system that has transformed information systems and introduced a new realm known as the "cyber world." While this progression has rendered access to information more efficient and convenient, it has concurrently spurred a rise in cyber threats, which have evolved into a societal concern and contributed to other criminal activities. Assessing knowledge for adaptability and promoting cybersecurity awareness is, therefore, an imperative for all sectors. This quantitative research aims to develop and evaluate a cybersecurity behaviour measurement instrument. The sample comprised 820 undergraduate students, with sample size determination conducted via the G*Power programme. The measurement instrument, initially designed by the researchers, encompassed 100 items across four components: 1) Awareness of cyber threats, 2) Knowledge of cyber threats, 3) Experience with cyber threats, and 4) Self-protection against cyber threats. Following expert evaluation, 67 items remained, rated on a 6-point scale. The findings supported all three hypotheses, with 21 items meeting established criteria, enabling the instrument to explain 64.187% of cybersecurity behaviours among undergraduate students and achieving an average reliability score of 0.885. Additionally, the model demonstrated alignment with empirical data, meeting standard indices, including χ2 = 94.392, df = 59, p-value = 0.531, RMSEA = 0.044, CFI = 0.987, TLI = 0.986, and SRMR = 0.062. In conclusion, the researchers recommended potential applications for the instrument in developing social indices and proposed extending it to study causal and effect factors in future research.