Do Different Mental Models Influence Cybersecurity Behavior? Evaluations via Statistical Reasoning Performance.

ABSTRACT: Cybersecurity research often describes people as understanding internet security in terms of metaphorical mental models (e.g., disease risk, physical security risk, or criminal behavior risk). However, little research has directly evaluated if this is an accurate or productive framework. To assess this question, two experiments asked participants to respond to a statistical reasoning task framed in one of four different contexts (cybersecurity, plus the above alternative models). Each context was also presented using either percentages or natural frequencies, and these tasks were followed by a behavioral likelihood rating. As in previous research, consistent use of natural frequencies promoted correct Bayesian reasoning. There was little indication, however, that any of the alternative men

SUBMITTER: Brase GL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5673648 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature