A Developed Framework for Studying Cyberethical Behaviour in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

ICT advancements have enabled more online activities, resulting in several cyberethical behaviours. Literature documents prevalence of plagiarism, and online fraud, among other misbehaviours. While behaviour has been explained by several theories, as scholarship and research advances, frameworks are modified to include more constructs. The researchers modified Fishbein and Ajzen (2011)'s Reasoned Action Approach to study female postgraduate students' perspectives toward cyberethical behaviour in North Central Nigerian universities. The study focused on four variables, which were adequately captured by the model: perception, awareness, and attitude. An adapted questionnaire collected quantitative data. This study used multistage sampling. A sample size of 989 north central Nigerian female university postgraduate students were selected from a population of 9,000. The majority of respondents reported not using copyrighted materials without permission (X = 3.48, N = 834, SD = 0.68) and using student emails for academic purposes (X = 3.36, N = 834, SD = 0.673). Perception and attitude toward cyberethical behaviour were positively correlated (r =0.17; P < 0.05). Perception, awareness, and attitude toward cyberethical behaviour correlated (R2 =0.22). Perception and awareness significantly affected cyberethical behaviour (R2 = 0.09). We recommend that university administrators implement intentional cyberethics policies and curricula to promote ethical internet use.