An Empirical Investigation Of The Influence Of Fear Appeals On Attitudes And Behavioral Intentions Associated With Recommended Individual Computer Security Actions

Through persuasive communication, IT executives strive to align the actions of end users with the desired security posture of management and of the firm. In many cases, the element of fear is incorporated within these communications. However, within the context of computer security and information assurance, it is not yet clear how these fear-inducing arguments, known as fear appeals, will ultimately impact the actions of end users. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of fear appeals on the compliance of end users with recommendations to enact specific individual computer security actions toward the amelioration of threats. A two-phase examination was adopted that involved two distinct data collection and analysis procedures, and culminated in the development and testing of a conceptual model representing an infusion of theories based on prior research in Social Psychology and Information Systems (IS), namely the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Results of the study suggest that fear appeals do impact end users attitudes and behavioral intentions to comply with recommended individual acts of security, and that the impact is not uniform across all end users, but is determined in part by perceptions of self-efficacy, response efficacy, threat severity, threat susceptibility, and social influence. The findings suggest that self-efficacy and, to a lesser extent, response efficacy predict attitudes and behavioral intentions to engage individual computer security actions, and that these relationships are governed by perceptions of threat severity and threat susceptibility. The findings of this research will contribute to IS expectancy research, human-computer interaction, and organizational communication by revealing a new paradigm in which IT users form perceptions of the technology, not on the basis of performance gains, but on the basis of utility for threat amelioration

SOCIAL COMMERCE: THE CRITICAL ROLE OF ARGUMENT STRENGTH AND SOURCE DYNAMISM OF EWOM

Due to the increasing popularity of social media, social commerce has been emerging as a new form of e-commerce. As a driving force of the popularity and growth of social commerce, electronic wordof-mouth (eWOM) plays an important role during the process of consumers’ purchase decision making in social commerce. There are adequate studies that have offered a broad view on what makes the helpfulness perception of eWOM. However, little research has investigated the effect of argument strength and source dynamism of eWOM. Drawing on Stimulus–Organism–Response (S–O–R) model and Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), an integrated research model is proposed and tries to explore the impact of argument strength and source dynamism of eWOM on consumers’ affective response and cognitive response and how do they affect the formation of consumers’ purchasing intention. We expect that our study can make a contribution to theoretical development and provide some guidance for retailers to carry out a better management strategy of eWOM

Information Security Behavior: Towards Multi-Stage Models

In order to ensure that employees abide by their organizations’ Information Security Policies (ISP), a number of information security policy compliance measures have been proposed in the past. If different factors can explain/predict the information security behavior of those employees who do know the ISP and of those who do not know the ISP, such as is suggested by stage theories, and the existing studies do not control for this issue, then the practical relevance of the existing models will be decreased. In order to test whether different factors explain/predict the information security behavior of those employees who do know the ISP and of those who do not know the ISP, we designed a study using the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) as the baseline theory. Employees’ ISP knowledge was tested by asking a few questions related to their organization’s ISP. We divided the data (N=513) into that related to a low knowledge group (regarding the organizations’ ISP) and that of a high knowledge group. The results show that the findings between the low knowledge group and the high knowledge group differ substantially. Our results provide an explanation for the inconsistent results in previous IS security research

Effect Of Source In Online Video Training For Cattle Producers

Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) contamination has been a long-existing concern for the cattle production industry, often causing negative public health and economic consequences. The existence of pre-harvest practices that reduce E. coli contamination creates the opportunity to support human health by modifying behaviors in cattle production through educational communication. It is vital to consider how communication can be modified to persuade the audience. This study examined the effects of having different sources, such as a veterinarian or cattle producer, present the message in a training video. An experimental design was used to examine how the source is identified relates to the source’s perceived credibility, as well as concepts related to the theory of planned behavior. A link to a video and an online questionnaire were distributed to cattle producers through the weekly news e-mail distributed by several industry organizations. The analysis of 106 questionnaires found that no matter how a presenter was described in the video there was no difference in the perceived credibility of the presenter. Also, no matter how the source was identified there was no difference in the variables related to the theory of planned behavior. In addition, this study found that no matter how the source was labeled, higher perceived credibility correlated with more positive attitudes, perceived norms, perceived behavior control and intention to adopt the suggested behaviors. This pattern provides evidence for credibility’s relationship with possible behavior adoption, indicating that credibility of the source is an important consideration when message designers are constructing training videos

How YouTube Health Vloggers Influence Viewer Compliance: The Interplay between Vlogger Characteristics, Parasocial Interaction, and Viewer Characteristics

Drawing on the notion of parasocial interaction (PSI) theory (Horton and Wohl, 1956), this dissertation provides a framework to demonstrate how YouTube health vloggers can influence viewer compliance intention toward a prescribed health behavior (i.e., weight-loss diet to lose weight). Initially, drawing on the discounting principles of attribution theory (Kelly, 1973), physical attractiveness stereotype (Eagly et al., 1991), and the black sheep effect (Marques and Yzerbyt, 1988), the interaction effects of three vlogger characteristics on viewer PSI experience were conceptualized and examined (Study 1). Then by using a scenario-based experiment, viewer PSI experience with the vlogger was manipulated (high vs. low) and drawing on social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954), PSI’s effect on the core dependent variable of this research, compliance intention was tested. In the process, this research also accounted for the mediating role of viewer readiness (role clarity, ability, and motivation), the moderating and the mediated moderating role of viewer health consciousness through viewer readiness in the PSI—compliance intention relationship. Overall, results indicated the dominance of vloggers’ credibility over the other two vlogger characteristics—physical attractiveness and ethnic similarity in engendering PSI experience with the viewers. While no main or interaction effects of vloggers’ physical attractiveness and ethnic similarity were found in generating viewers’ PSI experience with vloggers. The positive influence of PSI on compliance intention was found both as a direct effect and also through the mediating role of viewer readiness. While viewer health consciousness is found to have no moderating influence in the PSI—compliance relationship both in the direct effect and also in the indirect effect mediated through viewer readiness. The findings and their implications are discussed

Thanks for the free products! #ad : the effects of the number of followers and sponsorship disclosures on the credibility of Instagram influencers

Instagram influencers regularly promote products for brands. Some influencers follow Federal Trade Commission rules on advertising disclosures, such as putting ad or sponsored in a visible line of text, whereas others do not. Disclosures alert users that they are viewing an ad. Many social media users view influencers as authentic, trusted information sources, so it is important they are aware when viewing paid ads. How disclosures affect source credibility remains unclear. This study used 2 x 2 factorial design to evaluate the roles of two possible credibility enhancing factors: number of followers and advertising disclosures. Instagram users (N = 131) were shown an influencer\u27s page and a corresponding post, then asked questions on credibility perceptions of the influencer, brand attitudes, intent to purchase the product, and intent to share the post. The results of a two-way MANOVA indicated that the main effect for followers was almost significant, F (4, 124) = 2.30, p = .06. The main effect for disclosure was not significant, F (4, 124) = 0.12, p = .98. Additionally, the interaction effect of followers and disclosure was not significant, F (4, 124) - 1.42, p = .23. These results indicated that number of followers and sponsorship disclosures do not impact credibility ratings or behavioral intent. However, 87% of respondents correctly identified the post as an ad, regardless of disclosure condition, indicating that Instagram users recognized advertising regardless of disclosure. Participants in both disclosure groups identified primary advertising indicators including photo layout, products, or brand recommendation. This research raises questions for future researchers regarding the role that disclosures and number of followers play in establishing source credibility and behavioral intent for Instagram influencer marketing campaigns

Intention to comply with food safety messages in a crisis as a function of message source and message reliability

A key role of public relations is to manage crises, unexpected yet unpredictable events that cause emotional and physical harm (Coombs, 2007). Among the challenges in handling a crisis effectively is dealing with the various media in which information is presented. Because the use of social media in a crisis is a relatively new phenomenon, further understanding of the challenges and opportunities of these media is warranted. Part of meeting this challenge requires precise modeling of consumer responses to safety messages. To remedy gaps in our understanding of social media and food safety crisis communications, consumer intent to comply with a food safety message was evaluated within the framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Ajzen, 1991). Superimposed on the TPB intention model were possible moderator variables of message source (professional versus user-generated) and message reliability (confirmed versus unconfirmed information). Three focus groups provided background for the construction of a research instrument according to guidelines specified by Francis, Eccles, Johnston, Walker, Foy, et al. (2004). A 2x2 experimental design with four scenarios (message source x reliability), and realism checks of the scenarios were conducted. A pilot test with 130 undergraduate university students preceded administration of the instrument to a representative U.S. consumer panel of 400 participants. Results indicated that intent to comply with a food safety message was higher in response to messages in professional sources than in user-generated sources, but that the majority of this effect could be explained by participant age, which in turn predicted use of social media. Message reliability did not affect intent to comply—confirmed and unconfirmed messages had similar effects on intent to comply. All aspects of the TPB were confirmed by the current results with the exception of perceived behavioral control, which was so consistently strong that it was unable to predict variations in intent to comply with a food safety message. Consequently, the current data support the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA; Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975) rather than the TPB. Implications of the results for public relations and crisis communications, limitations of the study, and recommendations for future research are discussed

Building designers\u27 perception and the effect on sustainability in Malawi

Environmental sustainability in buildings is an important part of preserving the environment and reducing climate change. The increasing amount of physical infrastructure systems in Malawi has not been accompanied by policy-makers clearly understanding perceptions and attitudinal behaviors of building designers to promote environmental sustainability. Some building designers in Malawi might not be practicing sustainability innovations adequately, requiring more research to understand their perceptions and behaviors. The purpose of this mixed methods sequential and explanatory study was to explore how building designers\u27 behaviors relate to the implementation of sustainability innovations in Malawi. Ajzen\u27s theory of planned behavior explaining how attitudinal behaviors relate to individual\u27s actions, served as the conceptual framework. The central research question investigated perceptions and attitudinal behaviors building designers hold about sustainability, and how these behaviors connect with practicing sustainability innovations. Data collection used a Likert scale questionnaire to capture behavior items. A sample of 99 individuals working in building organizations completed the questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis showed attitude behavior influenced practicing sustainability more than the subjective and perceived control behaviors. Interviews with 24 participants supported the analytical finding. Government and policy-makers were the target audience. Knowledge about behaviors toward sustainability innovations enables government and policy-makers strategize and change stakeholders\u27 mindset to increase sustainability practices thereby impacting societal change in the construction communities