University of Twente Student Theses
Factors influencing risk perceptions and download intention in the context of mobile apps
Lindemeier, Lena (2016) Factors influencing risk perceptions and download intention in the context of mobile apps.
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| Abstract: | The influence of mobile apps is steadily rising and so are the risks and uncertainties involved in the download process. These risks refer especially to privacy, including a lack of control about how personal data accessed by an app are handled. Since there is a research gap in this field, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of familiarity, recommendations with different sources and valences and the sensitivity of the permissions required by the app. In order to investigate these effects a survey was conducted with 285 participants from Germany. In the survey participants were exposed to eight different scenarios leading them through a download process in which the variables were manipulated. The results of the study show that familiarity only influences people’s technical risk perception but does not help to reduce their privacy concerns or general risk perception. Especially, the sensitivity of the permissions required by an app has an influence on privacy risk and general risk perception. Furthermore, it was shown that participants in the study had a high valuation towards their privacy, which was found to have an effect on people’s risk perceptions as well as their download intention. Based on the results, it was shown that people need to be given assurance about their privacy protection during the download process in order to address their sceptical attitude and their concerns. There is a special need for further research into the underlying mechanisms in app download decisions and factors influencing people’s privacy concerns. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 05 communication studies |
| Programme: | Communication Studies MSc (60713) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/71399 |
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