Malin and Fowers (2009)
Contents
Source Details
Malin and Fowers (2009) | |
Title: | Adolescent Self-control and Music and Movie Piracy |
Author(s): | Malin, J., Fowers, B. J. |
Year: | 2009 |
Citation: | Malin, J., & Fowers, B. J. (2009). Adolescent Self-control and Music and Movie Piracy. Computers in Human Behavior, 25(3), 718-722. |
Link(s): | Definitive , Open Access |
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About the Data | |
Data Description: | 200 high school students (97 male, 103 female) in New York completed voluntary, anonymous written surveys on attitudes towards piracy, deviant peer groups, computer experience, and self-control, using numerical scales. Participants included 18 freshmen, 76 sophomores, 58 juniors, and 48 seniors.Respondents self-identified as 143 White, 39 Asian American, two African American, four Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander,and 14 other. |
Data Type: | Primary data |
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Cross Country Study?: | No |
Comparative Study?: | No |
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Abstract
Recent studies have applied Grottfredson and Hirschi’s General Theory of Crime to investigate whether college students’ inclinations toward internet software piracy is related to low self-control and opportunity (i.e., computer ownership). Given the widespread use of the internet to illegally obtain copies of music and movies, it is important to understand the factors in this form of piracy as well. This study applied the self-control perspective to examine the attitudes of high school students toward the internet piracy of music and movies. Attitudes toward the internet piracy of music and movies were related to self-control, biological sex, internet experience, affiliation with deviant peers, and grade level in this study of high school students. This information is important because studies of internet piracy had not yet confirmed the presence and predictability of internet piracy in high school students. This study also suggests that piracy prevention efforts may be most appropriately focused on high school age individuals and directed toward increasing self-control.
Main Results of the Study
Although college students have the highest rate of music and movie piracy, this study indicates that attitudes towards illegal downloading progressively develop in high school and piracy is most frequent amongst adolescents with a low level of self-control as well as negative attitudes towards rules and authority.
Policy Implications as Stated By Author
To prevent illegal downloading of music and movies, the authors recommend education in high school to enforce the idea that digital piracy is theft and not a victimless crime.
Coverage of Study
Datasets
Sample size: | 200 |
Level of aggregation: | Individual |
Period of material under study: | Not stated |