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Smartphone user threat avoidance behaviour in South Africa
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2021
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| _version_ | 1867614030633369600 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Butler, Rika |
| author2 | Boshoff, Willie |
| author_browse | Boshoff, Willie Butler, Rika |
| author_facet | Boshoff, Willie Butler, Rika |
| author_sort | Butler, Rika |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2021. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/124289 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:45:33.890Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateRange | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/124289 Smartphone user threat avoidance behaviour in South Africa Butler, Rika Boshoff, Willie Kidd, Martin Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Economics. Mobile communication systems -- Human factors -- South Africa Cell phones -- Human factors -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2021. ENGLISH SUMMARY: Unsafe smartphone user behaviour increases users’ susceptibility to mobile threats, which could expose sensitive and confidential information. A better understanding of aspects that motivate users to behave in a secure manner will enable the design of suitable interventions and tools to improve mobile security and contribute to the academic discourse in a relatively new research area. The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of smartphone user behaviour in the South African context, given the rise in the incidence of mobile threats and the limited extent of empirical research. To achieve the research objective, the study was conducted in three phases for the purpose of: (1) identifying the factors that influence smartphone users’ behaviour; (2) developing and validating an instrument to measure user behaviour; and (3) assessing a structural model for smartphone users’ threat avoidance behaviour. This study illustrated and confirmed the usefulness of structured literature reviews as a research tool in this field. It demonstrated that structured literature reviews can serve as a solid starting point for research studies. Through a systematic literature review of behavioural studies in the smartphone context, six factors that either drive or challenge users’ declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge were identified. These factors were combined with the underlying principles of the Technology Threat Avoidance Theory, a validated human behavioural model, which has been applied to explain user behaviour in computer and mobile contexts. Based on this foundation, a research model for smartphone users’ threat avoidance behaviour was developed. Following a robust methodology, rooted in theory, items for the measurement of 11 constructs were adapted for the smartphone context from existing instruments. New items were formulated where this was not possible. Measures were taken to ensure clear and non-ambiguous item formulation. The measurement instrument was validated through two rounds of pilot testing. The study highlighted the need for researchers to investigate the theoretical underpinnings of constructs that seem highly correlated before combining them into a single construct. Highly correlated constructs were investigated and arguments were presented to show that these constructs were conceptually distinct and that to group them into a single construct would not make theoretical sense. Data obtained when the survey was distributed to a sample of South African smartphone users were analysed, using structural equation modelling. A significant association between the avoidance motivation and avoidance behaviour of smartphone users was confirmed. In their threat appraisal, users’ behaviour was significantly influenced by their perception that a threat exists. Users’ ability to discern when a mobile threat is present and the perceived severity of the threat were significant predictors of users’ perceived threat. In their coping appraisal, the perceived effectiveness of a safeguard, users’ perceived ability to use that safeguard, and the perceived associated cost significantly affected their motivation to avoid a threat. The model developed supported the applicability of the Technology Threat Avoidance Theory in the smartphone context. Furthermore, the model extended and refined the Theory with three constructs, namely Threat Discernment Ability, Safeguard Awareness and Perceived Gratification. The model was able to explain 47% of the variance in smartphone users’ avoidance motivation and 57% of their avoidance behaviour. These are significantly greater percentages than previous South African studies have been able to explain. This study answers a call for research into human behaviour in the smartphone context. It refines and extends the Technology Threat Avoidance Theory, as invited by its authors. As smartphone user behaviour is a relatively new research domain, researchers are encouraged to focus on aspects that motivate safe smartphone user behaviour. Researchers are invited to validate, refine or extend the model to improve its explanatory power for smartphone user behaviour. Industry practitioners are encouraged to focus on matters found to affect smartphone behaviour negatively, such as users’ misconceptions and undue trust in mobile security. Initiatives should focus not only on improving users’ theoretical knowledge, but also on enhancing users’ abilities. Improving the usability and reducing the cost of smartphone security were highlighted, as associated challenges affected user behaviour negatively. Making safeguards easier to use represents a means to increase both its adoption and appropriate use. If the aspects that hinder smartphone users’ motivation to behave securely can be reduced, this will improve overall smartphone security. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Doctorate 2021-11-08T12:29:01Z 2022-02-22T10:23:18Z 2021-11-08T12:29:01Z 2021-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/124289 en_ZA Stellenbosch University xii, 173 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Mobile communication systems -- Human factors -- South Africa Cell phones -- Human factors -- South Africa UCTD Butler, Rika Smartphone user threat avoidance behaviour in South Africa |
| title | Smartphone user threat avoidance behaviour in South Africa |
| title_full | Smartphone user threat avoidance behaviour in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Smartphone user threat avoidance behaviour in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Smartphone user threat avoidance behaviour in South Africa |
| title_short | Smartphone user threat avoidance behaviour in South Africa |
| title_sort | smartphone user threat avoidance behaviour in south africa |
| topic | Mobile communication systems -- Human factors -- South Africa Cell phones -- Human factors -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/124289 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT butlerrika smartphoneuserthreatavoidancebehaviourinsouthafrica |