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Alison Deegan 

BSc [Hons] Applied Psychology

I have just finished the BSc (Hons) in Applied Psychology at IADT. With a special interest in the application of psychology to UX/UI, human computer interaction, and design, I chose the technology pathway. The key areas of core psychology that interest me are attitudes, behaviours and social psychology. My undergraduate research project "Data Breach, Online Privacy Concern, Online Privacy Literacy and Tendency Toward the Privacy Paradox " is summarized below. I am currently developing a portfolio in graphic design and hope to pursue a masters in UX in the future.

Project Description

Despite privacy concerns online, people often carry out inadequate privacy protection behaviours (PPB) resulting in disclosure of personal data. Barnes (2006) applied the term privacy paradox to this contradictory behaviour. Alternative concepts proposed better explain the inadequate PPB including privacy calculus theory (Dinev & Hart, 2006) and privacy cynicism (Hoffman et al., 2016). Nouwens et al,. (2020) and Solove (2020) argue since the introduction of the GDPR privacy nudge, user PPB are somewhat futile, discussing how deceptive design distorts user behaviour. A lack of research exists regarding mobile browser protection behaviours, specifically in an Irish context since the enhancement of GDPR.


Project Objectives

Data Breach, Online Privacy Concern, Online Privacy Literacy and Tendency Toward the Privacy Paradox

Most of the literature identifies online privacy concerns and online privacy literacy as key factors influencing online privacy protection behaviours, including tendency toward the privacy paradox.
This study aimed to investigate the influence of experience with a data breach on Irish mobile users' online privacy behaviours. No study to date has explored this in an Irish context.
A between-within groups quantitative design using a web based survey was employed. Data of 74 participants aged 18-55 was used for statistical analyses.


Project Findings

Privacy protection behaviours were greater in participants who experienced a data breach, yet tendency toward the privacy paradox showed no significant difference. This implies that Irish mobile users who experienced a data breach do attempt to carry out privacy protection behaviours, while demonstrating the complex and contextual nature of online privacy behaviour.
Suggestions for future research include re-framing the "privacy paradox" as corporate responsibility, and using research into online privacy behaviour to educate and empower the user.

Applied Psychology
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