Siponen and Vartiainen (2005)
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Source Details
Siponen and Vartiainen (2005) | |
Title: | Attitudes to and factors affecting unauthorized copying of computer software in Finland |
Author(s): | Siponen, M., Vartiainen, T. |
Year: | 2005 |
Citation: | Siponen, M. T., & Vartiainen, T. (2005). Attitudes to and factors affecting unauthorized copying of computer software in Finland. Behaviour & Information Technology, 24(4), 249-257. |
Link(s): | Definitive , Open Access,Open Access |
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About the Data | |
Data Description: | 249 students from three courses at a Finnish university during the academic year 1997/98. |
Data Type: | Primary data |
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Cross Country Study?: | No |
Comparative Study?: | No |
Literature review?: | No |
Government or policy study?: | No |
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Abstract
Several quantitative studies have sought to determine the factors affecting the unauthorized copying of software, particularly in North America. However, we find no statistically reliable studies on the situation in Europe. In order to address this gap in the literature, we explored the attitudes to and factors affecting the unauthorized copying of computer software of 249 Finnish university students: nine hypotheses derived from the existing research on unauthorized copying of computer software or theories of ethics were tested. A quantitative questionnaire was used as the research instrument. The results shed new light on the characteristics of users and factors affecting the unauthorized copying of software
Main Results of the Study
- There is no statistically significant difference in attitudes concerning the unauthorized copying of software between men and women, although men are more inclined to commit the act of unauthorized copying of software than women.
- Users do not equate the unauthorized copying of software with physical stealing.
- Committing the act of unauthorized copying of software and attitude concerning the acceptability of unauthorized copying of software are dependent.
- Gender and one's conviction concerning the acceptability of unauthorized copying of software are dependent.
- There is no dependence between having a job and committing the act of unauthorized copying of software.
Policy Implications as Stated By Author
The fact that the majority of Finnish computer users find the unauthorized copying of computer software acceptable while the action is banned by Finnish/European Union legislation should provoke serious contemplation about why this is the case. It is odd, and in any case cannot have positive consequences in the long run, if the majority of computer users regard an illegal act as legitimate. The same goes for professional codes of conduct that also prohibit the unauthorized copying of software.
Coverage of Study
Datasets
Sample size: | 249 |
Level of aggregation: | Individual |
Period of material under study: | 1997-1998 |