THE VALIDATION OF CONCERNS FOR INFORMATION PRIVACY (CFIP) SCALE FOR SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate and validate information privacy concerns scale for social networking sites. Current study identifies seven significant factors through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) which may work antecedents of information privacy concerns. Thus, in order to create a list of items for the measurement of instrument constructs, an extensive research of relevant literature was carried out. Later, the selected items were discussed with supervisors & sent to six information professionals for content validity. Pilot instrument based on literature was empirically validated by collecting the data from one hundred undergraduate students from selected universities. Exploratory factor analysis was used to confirm that the scale's construct validity. Furthermore, for internal reliability of the scale Cronbach's alpha coefficient was checked, the psychometric features of the 57-item measure were assessed with a group of 500 undergraduate students. Subsequently, valid & reliable 57-item Information Privacy Concerns Scale was validated, which could be tested and utilized to evaluate social networking users' information privacy concerns. This validated scale can be used in different contexts and among variant population groups to confirm its validity in the different settings.