Profiling cybersecurity competition participants: Self-efficacy, decision-making and interests predict effectiveness of competitions as a recruitment tool. Issue 65 (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bashir, Masooda; Wee, Colin; Memon, Nasir; Guo, Boyi
• Is Part Of: Computers & security. Issue 65(2017)
• Page Start: 153
• Page End: 165
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Cybersecurity -- Information assurance -- Human factors -- Career choice -- Recruitment -- Cybersecurity competitions; Computer security -- Periodicals; Electronic data processing departments -- Security measures -- Periodicals; 005.805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cose.2016.10.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0167-4048

Abstract

Abstract: This paper presents the main results of a large-scale survey on cybersecurity competition participants in the past decade. 588 participants of the Cybersecurity Awareness Week (CSAW) competition were surveyed with measures of personality, interests, culture, decision-making and attachment styles in an exploratory study designed to identify the characteristics of cybersecurity competition participants. Subgroups analyses were performed to examine individual differences between self-proclaimed hackers and non-hackers, males and females, and cybersecurity employees versus students. Regression analyses were used to identify variables that influenced the extent to which cybersecurity competitions were effective at convincing participants to pursue a future career in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity participants who displayed higher self-efficacy, rational decision-making style, and more investigative interests were more likely to declare an interest in a career in cybersecurity after the competition.