Software piracy : graduate student attitudes and intentions

Abstract

The purpose guiding this study was to determine the attitudes and intentions of students toward software piracy in a graduate school located in the province of Cavite in the Philippines, and certain factors that may compel students to pirate software. One hundred thirty-two students participated in the online survey. They rated their perceptions on a 65-item questionnaire on items associated with software piracy and religiosity and a 17-item questionnaire measuring computer knowledge. The data collection was done using web survey software, from November 7, 2006 to January 15, 2007. The major findings of this study were as follows: (a) Almost 75% of students admitted having pirated software. Malls/stores and friends emerged as the main sources of pirated software, (b) Students were neutral on their attitude and intention toward software piracy. They were unsure on the presence and/or severity of punishment for pirating software, on their abilities and opportunities to pirate software, and on the level of shame they felt for using illegal commercial software. However, they agreed that software is expensive, that they try to live according to their religious beliefs, and that the school use licensed software, (c) Younger, single, male, self-sponsored, business and theology students, Asians and Africans had a more positive attitude toward software piracy compared to other groups. Higher intention toward software piracy was also found in Africans, Asians, males, business, and theology students, (d) Religious commitment and computer knowledge were not statistically related to piracy attitude and intention. (e) Statistically significant predictors of piracy intention include piracy attitude, perceived behavioral control, personal shame and gender, and these accounted for a high amount of variance (0.683). Major recommendations include (a) that regular sessions at the beginning of each semester on the right use of software be conducted in the graduate school; (b) that the institution should maintain its support for the right use of software; and (c) that a large study that increase the number and variety of institutions should be done to assess whether personal shame, perceived behavioral control, software cost, harsh punishment, low punishment, computer knowledge, institution position affect the intention and attitude of students to pirate software in developing countries.