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Why do people file share unlawfully? A systematic review, meta-analysis and panel study

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Steven Watson, Professor Daniel ZizzoORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Unlawful digital media sharing is common and believed to be extremely damaging to business. Understanding unlawful file sharers’ motivations offers the opportunity to develop business models and behavioral interventions to maximize consumers’ and businesses’ benefit. This paper uses a systematic review of unlawful file sharing research, and the Theory of Planned Behavior, to motivate a large-scale panel study in which initial determinants were used to predict subsequent behavior. A meta-analysis found Attitudes, Subjective Norms and Perceived Behavioral Control were all associated with unlawful file sharing. Media type and demographic differences in the importance of Perceived Behavioral Control were found and attributed to more accurate evaluation of familiar activities, i.e., greater experience increases the influence of Perceived Behavioral Control but age does not.The panel study confirmed that greater past experience was associated with Perceived Behavioral Control and Intention. We conclude that past experience increases the efficacy of the Theory of Planned Behavior and specifically Perceived Behavioral control in predicting behavior, contrary to some widely held beliefs about the role of experience. The role of experience is therefore crucial to understanding people’s choices. Practically, improving social approval, positive evaluation and access to lawful media should reduce unlawful behavior.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Fleming P, Watson SJ, Patouris E, Bartholomew KJ, Zizzo DJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Computers in Human Behavior

Year: 2017

Volume: 72

Pages: 535-548

Print publication date: 01/07/2017

Online publication date: 05/02/2017

Acceptance date: 04/02/2017

Date deposited: 08/02/2017

ISSN (print): 0747-5632

ISSN (electronic): 1873-7692

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.02.014

DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2017.02.014


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
AH/K000179/1Arts & Humanities Research Council-AHRC (formerly AHRB)

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