Does Social Learning Theory Condition the Effects of Low Self-Control on College Students’ Software Piracy?
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چکیده
Although researchers have examined software piracy using several correlates and theories, it is not clear whether low self-control has an effect on software piracy and if social learning theory can condition the effect that low self-control has on college students’ software piracy. Using data collected from three hundred and eighteen undergraduate college students, this study examines the effect that low self-control has on software piracy and whether social learning measures (i.e., associating with deviant peers and attitudes) condition this effect. The results show that low self-control does have an effect on software piracy and that social learning theory measures (i.e., associating with several deviant peers and high levels of positive attitudes toward software piracy) condition this effect. Introduction The growth in the use of microcomputers makes life easier for many in the world. However, this growth parallels the growth in software piracy (Glass & Wood, 1996). Software piracy occurs when an individual illegally copies commercially available software in order to avoid fees, or when an individual makes unauthorized copies of an organization’s internally developed software for personal use or distribution (Straub & Collins, 1990; Britz, 2004). This behavior is most common among college students (Solomon & O’Brien, 1990; Sims, Cheng, & Teegan, 1996) who are majoring in liberal arts subjects (Hollinger, 1988; Husted, 2000) and who have previous software piracy or computer experience (Hinduja, 2001). According to an industry survey, in 2000 one-third of all personal computer software packages were illegal copies (Business Software Alliance, 2003). The estimates of software piracy indicate that the behavior is widespread and that software manufacturers are losing billions of dollars annually (Peace, Galletta, & Thong, 2003; Seale, Polakowski, & Schneider, 1998). The ease with which software can be pirated makes such behavior difficult to detect. Britz (2004) commented that it is all but impossible to stop. Two factors have contributed to this problem. First, the Internet has provided an easy means to pirate software. Second, software piracy usually does not occur with the creator or publisher of the software present, giving the impression that the behavior is “victimless.” That is, the software pirate may regard his actions as producing little harm for the billion-dollar company. Therefore, individuals may pirate
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