Causal Relationships of Cyber Citizen Policies and Programs of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D., Department of Educational Management and Planning, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Ph.D., Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

3 Master's Degree, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Lamard Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lamard, Iran

Abstract

Purpose: This research aims to investigate the causal relationships of cyber citizen policies and programs of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences students.
Method: This research is applied in both purpose and nature, and it employs a descriptive correlation approach based on structural equation modeling for data collection. The statistical population for this research comprised all 435 medical students enrolled at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences during the 2019-2020 academic year. From this population, a sample of 205 students was selected using the sampling method outlined in the Krejcie and Morgan table. They were selected at random. To measure the research variables, we utilized the questionnaires on cyber citizen policies and programs from UNESCO University (2016), cyber citizenship skills from UNESCO (2016), and cyberspace threats from Isa and Isayas (2016). The validity of the questionnaires was established through face validity and construct validity methods, specifically confirmatory factor analysis. The reliability coefficients were estimated using Cronbach's alpha, yielding values of 0.87, 0.90, and 0.77, respectively, which were confirmed. Data analysis was conducted at both descriptive and inferential levels using structural equation modeling, implemented through SPSS version 21 and LISREL version 8.8 software.
Finding: The results indicated that cyber citizenship policies and programs have a positive and significant impact on students' cyber citizenship skills. Conversely, students' cyber citizenship skills have a negative and significant effect on their vulnerability to threats in cyberspace. Additionally, the impact of cyber citizenship policies and programs on students' vulnerability to threats in cyberspace is both negative and significant. This suggests that students' vulnerability to adverse cyberspace threats mediates the relationship between university cyber citizenship policies and programs and students' cyber citizenship skills.
Conclusion: According to the results, it can be seen that the policy-making and planning of universities in the field of cyber citizenship can effectively increase students' cyber citizenship skills and reduce their susceptibility to cyberspace. At the same time, increasing students' cyber citizenship skills can also reduce their level of vulnerability to cyberspace risks and threats. Therefore, reducing students' susceptibility to cyberspace threats can not only be directly influenced by university policies and plans in the field of cyberspace but also through the development of students' cyber citizenship skills. It is influenced by the educational measures of the university and even the government at the national level.

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Main Subjects

References

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Sciences and Techniques of Information Management
Volume 10, Issue 2
November 2024
Pages 77-102

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