Privacy: How Do We Define It, Assess It, And Then Seek to Protect It Online and Why?

Privacy: How Do We Define It, Assess It, And Then Seek to Protect It Online and Why?

Author: Nicholas John Proferes III
Graduation Year: 2008
Advisor: Diana Owen
Reader: Eric Zimmer
Date: 23 November 2009
Link to Thesis: none.

Abstract:

The proliferation of technology in the 21st century has begun to dissolve the boundaries between public and private: How do individuals conceive of and subsequently guard their privacy online? Does it depend on the individual? This thesis explores that question using the concept of personally identifiable information online. Within this thesis, I hypothesize that there exist core determinants that contribute to an individual’s willingness to divulge personally identifying information in an online environment. I also hypothesize that those core determinants correlate to different demographic and user traits of the individual. To test this hypothesis, I surveyed individuals about their beliefs, attitudes and behaviors regarding personally identifying information online. I then statistically tested for correlations between the core determinants and the demographic/user traits. This analysis yielded thirteen (13) statistically significant results.