Cybersecurity and the Social Sciences
Cybersecurity is typically conceived as a technical topic. In reality, the topic is multi-disciplinary, and some aspects of the topic are best understood through a social science lens. This course addresses the social, political, legal, criminological, and economic dimensions of cybersecurity through a social science framework. Students are introduced to a human-factors approach to understanding cybersecurity threats. Attention is given to the social factors that contribute to cyber incidents and the political and legal mechanisms that are developed to control the behaviors of those who create risks in cybersecurity incidents. The class also explores how cybersecurity is studied by social scientists in psychology, political science, criminology, economics, sociology, international studies, and other social science disciplines.
The course objectives are:
- Compare how basic psychological, sociological, criminological, political, economic, and legal theories and models explain cybersecurity
- Identify the strengths and weaknesses of those theories in understanding the connections between human behaviors and cybersecurity
- Define key concepts including cybersecurity, cybercrime, cyber criminology, cyber law, digital forensics, human factors, cyber policy, cyber risk, cyber threats, and cyberwar.
- Identify how professionals in various cybersecurity careers apply these multidisciplinary concepts in their daily routines
- Describe how hypotheses and research questions are formed in studies addressing cybersecurity through a social science lens
- Describe how data are collected, measured, and analyzed in studies addressing cybersecurity through a social science lens
- Identify how marginalized groups have confronted challenges and concerns related to cybersecurity as well as how these groups have contributed to our understanding about the topic.
- Explain how the application of social science theories, principles, and research strategies have contributed to our understanding of cybersecurity at the societal level.
Introduction to Course
Introduction to the Social Sciences
Bhattacherjee (2012) (ch. 1-2)Links to an external site.
Post to Discussion Board (pg 3 and pg 8)
Begin working on individualized ePortfolio
Journal entry (page/slide 28) to be uploaded in ePortfolio
2
Principles of Social Sciences and Cybersecurity
Diversity and Cybersecurity
Mountrouidou et al. (2019). Securing the human: A review of literature on broadening diversity in cybersecurity education
National Academies Press. (2019). Integrating Social and Behavioral Research to Enhance Security in CyberspaceLinks to an external site.
Post to Discussion Board (page/slide 16)
Journal entry #2 (page/slide 17) – upload to ePortfolio
3
Strategies to Study Cybersecurity through an Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Lens
Bhattacherjee (2012) (ch. 3)Links to an external site.
No Discussion Board
Journal #3 (page/slide 12) – upload to ePortfolio
4
Cybersecurity and Human Factors
Bhattacherjee (2012) (ch. 4)Links to an external site.
Back & LaPrade (2019). The future of cybercrime prevention strategies: Human factors and a holistic approach to cyber intelligenceLinks to an external site.
Post to Discussion Board (page/slide 14)
Journal #4 (page/slide 22) upload to ePortfolio
5
Applying Psychological Principles of Cyber Offending, Victimization, and Professionals
Whitty (2018). Do You Love Me? Psychological Characteristics of Romance Scam Victims (liebertpub.com)Links to an external site.
Post to Discussion Board (page/slide 12)
Journal #5 (page/slide 4) upload to ePortfolio
6
Psychology Research, Human Factors, and Cybersecurity
Nobles, (2018). Botching Human Factors in Cybersecurity in Business Organizations.Links to an external site.
Post to Discussion Board (page/slide 15)
Journal #6 (pg 22) upload to ePortfolio
7
Cybersecurity and the Social Dimensions of Data Science
Wilner, A. (2018). Cybersecurity and its discontents: Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and digital misinformation.Links to an external site.
No post to Discussion Board
Journal #7 (page/slide 22) upload to ePortfolio
8
Social dynamics, social structures, and cybersecurity
Debb et al. (2020). A reverse digital divide: Comparing information security behavior of Generation Y and Generation Z adultsLinks to an external site.
Payne, May, & Hadzhidimova (2012). America’s most wanted criminals: Comparing cybercriminals and traditional criminalsLinks to an external site.
No post to Discussion Board
Journal #8 page/slide 30) upload to ePortfolio
8
FALL BREAK [No Classes Sat-Tues]
October 11 – 14 – HAPPY FALL BREAK!
9
Culture, Social Media and Cybersecurity
Jethwani et al. (2017). I can actually be a cyber sleuth: Engaging adolescent girls in cybersecurityLinks to an external site.
Post to Discussion Board (pg 20)
Journal #9 (page/slide 38) upload to ePortfolio
10
Social Cybersecurity
Beskow & Karley, (2019). Social Cybersecurity.Links to an external site.
Post to Discussion Board (page/slide 23)
Journal #10 (page/slide 7) upload to ePortfolio
Journal #11 (page/slide 34) upload to ePortfolio
11
The Economics of Cybersecurity
Moore, T. (2010). The economics of cybersecurity: Principles and policy optionsLinks to an external site.
Post to Discussion Board (page/slide 8)
Journal #12 (page/slide 19) upload to ePortfolio
Journal #13 (page/slide 28) upload to ePortfolio
12
Conceptualizing cybersecurity as a crime – Part 1
Payne & Hadzhimova (2018). Cybersecurity and Criminal Justice Programs in the United States: Exploring the Intersections.Links to an external site.
Payne & Hadzhimova (2020). Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Trends in Cybercrime Research: An ExaminationLinks to an external site.
No post to Discussion Board
Journal #14 (page/slide 7) upload to ePortfolio
Upload Career paper to Assignment and ePortfolio
13
Conceptualizing cyber behaviors as crime – Part 2.
Payne (2019). White-Collar Cybercrime: White-Collar Crime, Cybercrime, or Both?Links to an external site.
Post to Discussion Board (page/slide 33)
No Journal entry
14
Thanksgiving Holiday (no classes Wed-Sun)
November 26 – November 30 – Happy Thanksgiving!
15
Studying and Addressing Cyber Harm through a Criminological and Political Framework
All artifacts uploaded to ePortfolio
Finnemore & Hollis, (2018). Constructing Norms for Global CybersecurityLinks to an external site.
Post to Discussion Board (page/slide 19)
Journal #15 (page/slide 28) upload to ePortfolio
16
Final Exam