Predictors of digital piracy among Turkish undergraduate students

Abstract

Unauthorized downloading or duplication of copyrighted software has been a serious financial and ethical concern. Thus, the current research addressed predictors of digital piracy across two Turkish undergraduate samples. In Study 1, two structural models were tested with 465 students. Latent variables of interest were measured through 21 indicators to address past piracy, present piracy, prosecution risk and piracy attitudes. Followed by the confirmation of the factor structure, two structural models were retained. In the first model, perceived likelihood of prosecution decreased piracy through full mediation of attitudes, whereas past piracy decreased it through partial mediation of attitudes. In the second model, both variables explained current piracy through full mediation of attitudes. In Study 2, 12 social desirability items were added to current measures and tested with a new group (n = 190). The measurement model was confirmed. While prosecution risk and social desirability was related, their contribution to current piracy behaviors was not significant. The links between past and present piracy and attitudes were still strong.