Cybercrime and Computer Science Undergraduate Students in Private Universities in Nigeria: An Empirical Investigation

Cybercrime and Computer Science Undergraduate Students in Private Universities in Nigeria: An Empirical Investigation

  IJCTT-book-cover
 		 International Journal of Computer Trends and Technology (IJCTT)          
 
© 2017 by IJCTT Journal
Volume-51 Number-1
Year of Publication : 2017
Authors : Nwosu, Jonathan. C., Adebawojo Bolanle, Ifeoma Helen Ayeni
DOI :  10.14445/22312803/IJCTT-V51P105

MLA

Nwosu, Jonathan. C., Adebawojo Bolanle, Ifeoma Helen Ayeni "Cybercrime and Computer Science Undergraduate Students in Private Universities in Nigeria: An Empirical Investigation". International Journal of Computer Trends and Technology (IJCTT) V51(1):34-37, September 2017. ISSN:2231-2803. www.ijcttjournal.org. Published by Seventh Sense Research Group.

Abstract -
The increasing rate of cybercrimes in Nigeria and other countries of the world has given scholars a great concern. Cybercrime which is a criminal act perpetuated by individuals who have gained expertise in information and communication technology is a major threat to development. With the successful reduction of the world to a global village via information technology, computer science and its related discipline have continued to attract more students. A number of these students use their acquired knowledge to perpetuate crimes. And Crimes committed through cyber space has far reaching effects as its impacts are detrimental to the countries cohesion and development. The purpose of this study was to explore cybercrime and computer science undergraduate students in private universities in Nigeria. The study adopted cross sectional survey design with a sample size of 1200 students cutting across six (6) private universities in Ogun State. Upon consent, participants were asked to complete the “Intent Towards Internet Fraud Scale (ITIFS). Data was analyzed using simple percentage, t-test and multiple regression. The participants demonstrated a high intent of involving in cybercrime. The results indicated a meaningful difference between male and female undergraduates` computer student. Also, age and students` level was found to be a significant factor predicting intent to involve in cybercrime among the participants. Thus the study recommends that the educational system should place great emphasis on moral development as it has done in intellectual and social developments because this will help shape the minds of students towards productive ventures other than using their intellectual knowledge for criminal activities.

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Keywords
Cybercrime, Computer Science, Undergraduate students, Private Universities.