Application of Protection Motivation Theory to Adoption of Protective Technologies

Abstract

While most technology adoption models have focused on beneficial technologies, Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) is a potentially valuable model for predicting adoption of protective technologies, which help users avoid harm from a growing number of negative technologies, such as malware. We present a PMT-based model of users intentions to adopt anti-spyware software and test the model on undergraduate student computer users. Results show that perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, response efficacy, and response cost influence behavioral intention to use anti-spyware software as a protective technology.Maladaptive coping was affected to a much lesser degree by these variables, although it did have its own significant effect on behavioral intention. Results are compared to the small but growing number of promising PMTbased research models investigating technology adoption.

Examining the roles of students' beliefs and security concerns for using smartwatches in higher education

“…influence the users' behavioral intention to adopt various technologies (Woon et al, 2005;Chenoweth et al, 2009;Ab Rahman and Choo, 2015;Gao et al, 2015;Hsieh et al, 2017;Verkijika, 2018). Hence, we hypothesize the following: H3.…”

“…Perceived severity refers to "the degree of physical harm, psychological harm, social threats, economic harm, dangers to others rather than oneself, and even threats to other species" (Rogers and Prentice-Dunn, 1997). Perceived severity was found to positively affect the individuals' behavioral intention to adopt anti-spyware software (Chenoweth et al, 2009), cloud computing services (Ab Rahman and Choo, 2015) and healthcare wearable devices (Gao et al, 2015). In the context of smartwatch, if students have strong perceptions on the severity of a threat, it can motivate them to avoid security incidents.…”

“…The strong perception of security vulnerabilities can motivate students to avoid security breaches. Perceived vulnerability was shown to positively impact the individuals' behavioral intentions to adopt anti-spyware software (Chenoweth et al, 2009), IS (Siponen et al, 2007), cloud computing services (Ab Rahman and Choo, 2015) and healthcare wearable devices (Gao et al, 2015). Concerning smartwatch, if students have a keen awareness of security vulnerability, this can encourage them to avoid security incidents.…”

Why Do Not We Use Password Managers? A Study on the Intention to Use Password Managers

“…When faced with a breach, it is common practice for businesses to request users to reset passwords for all the other accounts where that account information is used (UnderArmour, 2018). Previous research on security behaviors has found support for perceived vulnerability and perceived severity (Chenoweth et al, 2009;Crossler & Belanger, 2014;Liang & Xue, 2010;Martens et al, 2019;Thompson et al, 2017). Therefore, we hypothesize H2: Perceived severity of password loss will be positively related to intention to use password managers.…”

“…In these cases, the use of antivirus reduces the chance that computing resources are compromised. Previous research has used protective motivation theory (PMT) to explain individuals' intention to use such security tools (Chenoweth, Minch, & Gattiker, 2009;Gurung, Luo, & Liao, 2009;Martens, De Wolf, & De Marez, 2019;Thompson, McGill, & Wang, 2017).…”