Assignment 1 In This Journal Reflection You Will Answer The

Assignment 1in This Journal Reflection You Will Answer The Questions

In this journal reflection, you will answer the questions below to help you formulate your topic. Please address the following in your journal: Identify a topic in your specialization. (For IT students, Information Technology is not a topic, however, Millennial's perceptions of smart phone technology could be a topic. For leadership students, leadership or leadership styles would be too broad. You could, however, compare leader and followers perceptions of leadership styles in private four year institutions. These are examples).

What is the current problem related to your topic? Who is the problem happening to? Where is the problem happening? Provide at least two citations to show that the problem is still happening today. What part of the problem listed in #2 do you want to research and why?

What methodology are you planning on using? (If you are unsure, do you plan on a quantitative or qualitative study? You will determine your methodology in 839). For the methodology listed in #4, how and where will you get your data? What theories or frameworks (i.e. transformational leadership theory, technology acceptance model, etc) will guide your study? What are the origins of these theories?

Share your topic idea(s) by going to the "Week 1 Assignment - Journal Reflection on Topic Ideas" link above.

Paper For Above instruction

The process of selecting an appropriate research topic is fundamental to the success of any scholarly investigation. For this reflection, I have chosen to focus on perceptions of cybersecurity threats among university students, a pertinent issue in today's digital age. Understanding how students perceive the risks and security measures can inform better educational strategies and policy development aimed at safeguarding personal and institutional data. The problem of cybersecurity awareness is increasingly relevant as cyberattacks grow more sophisticated and frequent (Kaspersky, 2022; Smith & Johnson, 2023). The core issue is that students often lack sufficient knowledge of cybersecurity best practices, making them vulnerable to phishing, malware, and other cyber threats. This problem predominantly affects undergraduate students who rely heavily on online platforms for learning and social interactions, and it occurs primarily within the university environment.

Recent studies highlight that despite the proliferation of digital literacy campaigns, awareness levels remain inadequate (Kaspersky, 2022; Singh et al., 2023). Many students still underestimate the risks or are unaware of basic security measures, such as recognizing phishing attempts or using two-factor authentication. For my research, I wish to examine the specific factors influencing students’ perceptions of cybersecurity risks, focusing on their level of digital literacy and trust in institutional security protocols. I believe this focus will reveal insights on how to improve cybersecurity education tailored to student needs.

For my methodology, I plan to undertake a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews. This approach will allow me to gather broad data on student perceptions and detailed insights into their attitudes and experiences. Data will be collected through online questionnaires distributed across multiple university campuses, supplemented with interviews of cybersecurity experts and students. The theoretical framework guiding my study will be the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which explains how users come to accept and use technology based on perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness (Davis, 1989). This theory has its origins in cognitive psychology and has been widely applied in information systems research to understand user behavior.

By exploring the perceptions and awareness of cybersecurity threats, my study aims to contribute to more effective educational interventions and policy measures that enhance cybersecurity resilience among students. Ultimately, this research will help universities foster a safer digital environment, reducing vulnerabilities and increasing trust in online systems.

References

• Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319-340.
• Kaspersky. (2022). Cybersecurity awareness report 2022. Kaspersky Laboratory Publications.
• Smith, R., & Johnson, L. (2023). Trends in cyber threats affecting higher education institutions. Journal of Cybersecurity Research, 15(2), 101-117.
• Singh, P., Kumar, R., & Patel, S. (2023). Digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness among college students. International Journal of Educational Technology, 10(1), 45-60.