Cyber Survey: Understanding the Level of Cyberethics, Safety and Security Awareness of Middle

School Students

Brianna MentleHoward County Public School System,

Maryland

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This study examined the level of Cyberethics, Cybersafety and Cybersecurity Awareness of middle school students.

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Conducted Surveys Consisting of:

• Paper Based Survey with 31 questions• One Middle School• 143 Students • 75 Male/68 Female• 42 in 6th Grade, 52 in 7th Grade, and 49 in 8th

Grade• 74 in On-Grade Level English, 69 in GT English

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4

5

6

Demographics page

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How much do you know about…

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How much do you know about....(mean)

00.5

11.5

22.5

3

Topic

Rat

ing

Sca

le

Overall

6th

7th

8th

0=Not At All

1=Not Much

2=Some

3= A Lot

Computers Overall

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 3.5% 0.0% 7.8% 2.0% 5.4% 1.5%1 6.3% 2.4% 7.8% 8.2% 6.8% 5.9%2 52.1% 50.0% 60.8% 44.9% 44.6% 60.3%3 38.0% 47.6% 23.5% 44.9% 43.2% 32.4%Mean 2.25 2.45 2.00 2.33 2.26 2.24Std Dev 0.73 0.55 0.80 0.72 0.81 0.63

GT Regular

0 2.9% 4.1%1 7.2% 5.5%2 50.7% 53.4%3 39.1% 37.0%Mean 2.26 2.23Std Dev 0.72 0.74 10

Cyberbullying?Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 4.2% 0.0% 3.8% 8.2% 8.0% 0.0%1 8.4% 4.8% 9.6% 10.2% 5.3% 11.8%2 53.1% 50.0% 57.7% 51.0% 46.7% 60.3%3 34.3% 45.2% 28.8% 30.6% 40.0% 27.9%Mean 2.17 2.40 2.12 2.04 2.19 2.16Std Dev 0.75 0.59 0.73 0.87 0.87 0.61

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

GT Regular

0 2.9% 5.4%1 7.2% 9.5%2 58.0% 48.6%3 31.9% 36.5%Mean 2.19 2.16Std Dev 0.69 0.81 11

Sexting

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 18.3% 35.7% 15.4% 6.3% 13.3% 23.9%1 22.5% 23.8% 19.2% 25.0% 18.7% 26.9%2 38.7% 23.8% 40.4% 50.0% 42.7% 34.3%3 20.4% 16.7% 25.0% 18.8% 25.3% 14.9%Mean 1.83 1.21 1.75 2.43 1.80 1.85Std Dev 2.73 1.12 1.01 4.39 0.97 3.84

GT Regular

0 13.2% 23.0%1 22.1% 23.0%2 42.6% 35.1%3 22.1% 18.9%Mean 2.17 1.50Std Dev 3.76 1.05 12

Identity Theft

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 12.6% 11.9% 15.4% 10.2% 9.3% 16.2%1 30.8% 21.4% 30.8% 38.8% 29.3% 32.4%2 35.7% 45.2% 30.8% 32.7% 33.3% 38.2%3 21.0% 21.4% 23.1% 18.4% 28.0% 13.2%Mean 1.65 1.76 1.62 1.59 1.80 1.49Std Dev 0.95 0.93 1.01 0.91 0.96 0.92

GT Regular

0 8.7% 16.2%1 31.9% 29.7%2 40.6% 31.1%3 18.8% 23.0%Mean 1.70 1.61Std Dev 0.88 1.02 13

Malware

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 65.7% 66.7% 75.0% 55.1% 56.0% 76.5%1 16.1% 16.7% 9.6% 22.4% 17.3% 14.7%2 11.2% 4.8% 11.5% 16.3% 14.7% 7.4%3 7.0% 11.9% 3.8% 6.1% 12.0% 1.5%Mean 0.59 0.62 0.44 0.73 0.83 0.34Std Dev 0.94 1.03 0.85 0.95 1.08 0.68

GT Regular

0 56.5% 74.3%1 18.8% 13.5%2 18.8% 4.1%3 5.8% 8.1%Mean 0.74 0.46Std Dev 0.96 0.91 14

How significant a role have these played in teaching you about C3

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How Significant a Role Have These Played in Teaching You About Cyberethics, Safety and

Security Topics?

0

0.51

1.5

2T

.V.

& N

ews

Par

ent

Con

vers

atio

ns

Sib

lings

Sch

ool C

lass

Wor

k

Sch

ool

Ass

embl

ies

Pee

rs/F

riend

s

Topics

Rat

ing

Sca

le

Overall

6th

7th

8th

0=Not At All

1=Not Much

2=Some

3= A Lot

Parents

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 14.1% 11.9% 17.6% 12.2% 13.5% 14.7%1 36.6% 42.9% 27.5% 40.8% 32.4% 41.2%2 35.2% 31.0% 37.3% 36.7% 35.1% 35.3%3 14.1% 14.3% 17.6% 10.2% 18.9% 8.8%Mean 1.49 1.48 1.55 1.45 1.59 1.38Std Dev 0.91 0.89 0.99 0.84 0.95 0.85

GT Regular

0 14.5% 13.7%1 34.8% 38.4%2 40.6% 30.1%3 10.1% 17.8%Mean 1.46 1.52Std Dev 0.87 0.94 17

TV and News

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 14.0% 16.7% 11.5% 14.3% 16.0% 11.8%1 36.4% 47.6% 44.2% 18.4% 40.0% 32.4%2 38.5% 23.8% 40.4% 49.0% 30.7% 47.1%3 11.2% 11.9% 3.8% 18.4% 13.3% 8.8%Mean 1.47 1.31 1.37 1.71 1.41 1.53Std Dev 0.87 0.90 0.74 0.94 0.92 0.82

GT Regular

0 11.6% 16.2%1 37.7% 35.1%2 37.7% 39.2%3 13.0% 9.5%Mean 1.52 1.42Std Dev 0.87 0.88 18

Class Work

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 21.7% 4.8% 26.9% 30.6% 25.3% 17.6%1 32.2% 26.2% 34.6% 34.7% 29.3% 35.3%2 37.1% 52.4% 26.9% 34.7% 36.0% 38.2%3 9.1% 16.7% 11.5% 0.0% 9.3% 8.8%Mean 1.34 1.81 1.23 1.04 1.29 1.38Std Dev 0.92 0.77 0.98 0.82 0.96 0.88

GT Regular

0 26.1% 17.6%1 34.8% 29.7%2 36.2% 37.8%3 2.9% 14.9%Mean 1.16 1.50Std Dev 0.85 0.95 19

School Assemblies

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 28.0% 31.0% 15.4% 38.8% 30.7% 25.0%1 27.3% 21.4% 28.8% 30.6% 28.0% 26.5%2 32.2% 28.6% 42.3% 24.5% 30.7% 33.8%3 12.6% 19.0% 13.5% 6.1% 10.7% 14.7%Mean 1.29 1.36 1.54 0.98 1.21 1.38Std Dev 1.01 1.12 0.92 0.95 1.00 1.02

GT Regular

0 23.2% 32.4%1 24.6% 29.7%2 40.6% 24.3%3 11.6% 13.5%Mean 1.41 1.19Std Dev 0.97 1.04 20

Peers

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 33.6% 28.6% 40.4% 30.6% 42.7% 23.5%1 37.8% 45.2% 38.5% 30.6% 26.7% 50.0%2 22.4% 16.7% 19.2% 30.6% 22.7% 22.1%3 6.3% 9.5% 1.9% 8.2% 8.0% 4.4%Mean 1.01 1.07 0.83 1.16 0.96 1.07Std Dev 0.90 0.92 0.81 0.96 0.99 0.80

GT Regular

0 29.0% 37.8%1 42.0% 33.8%2 26.1% 18.9%3 2.9% 9.5%Mean 1.03 1.00Std Dev 0.82 0.98 21

Siblings

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 55.2% 42.9% 63.5% 57.1% 58.7% 51.5%1 25.2% 33.3% 25.0% 18.4% 21.3% 29.4%2 14.7% 14.3% 11.5% 18.4% 14.7% 14.7%3 4.9% 9.5% 0.0% 6.1% 5.3% 4.4%Mean 0.69 0.90 0.48 0.73 0.67 0.72Std Dev 0.90 0.98 0.70 0.97 0.92 0.88

GT Regular

0 53.6% 56.8%1 30.4% 20.3%2 14.5% 14.9%3 1.4% 8.1%Mean 0.64 0.74Std Dev 0.79 0.99 22

My school promotes correct student use of computers and the internet

by

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My School Promotes Correct Student Use of Computers and the Internet by...

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

Has a Policy RequiresCyberethicsbe Taught in

School

RequiresWhat to do

aboutCyberbullyingbe Taught in

School

RequiresWhat to do

About Sextingbe Taught in

school

RequiresWhat to do

AboutMalware be

Taught inschool

RequiresWhat to do

About IdentityTheft beTaught in

school

Topics

Ra

rtin

g S

ca

le Overall

6th

7th

8th

0=Not At All

1=Not Much

2=Some

3= A Lot

Policy/student Handbook

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 2.9% 2.4% 5.8% 0.0% 4.2% 1.5%1 14.3% 22.0% 11.5% 10.6% 16.7% 11.8%2 48.6% 46.3% 51.9% 46.8% 43.1% 54.4%3 34.3% 29.3% 30.8% 42.6% 36.1% 32.4%Mean 2.14 2.02 2.08 2.32 2.11 2.18Std Dev 0.76 0.79 0.81 0.66 0.83 0.69

GT Regular

0 1.5% 4.2%1 13.2% 15.3%2 47.1% 50.0%3 38.2% 30.6%Mean 2.22 2.07Std Dev 0.73 0.79 25

Teaching what to do about cyberbullying

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 11.5% 7.3% 3.9% 23.4% 16.7% 6.0%1 24.5% 22.0% 33.3% 17.0% 22.2% 26.9%2 36.7% 34.1% 39.2% 36.2% 37.5% 35.8%3 27.3% 36.6% 23.5% 23.4% 23.6% 31.3%Mean 1.80 2.00 1.82 1.60 1.68 1.93Std Dev 0.97 0.95 0.84 1.10 1.02 0.91

GT Regular

0 9.0% 13.9%1 28.4% 20.8%2 40.3% 33.3%3 22.4% 31.9%Mean 1.76 1.83Std Dev 0.91 1.03 26

Requires cyberthics be taught

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 12.9% 4.9% 11.8% 21.3% 16.7% 9.0%1 21.6% 12.2% 27.5% 23.4% 25.0% 17.9%2 41.0% 48.8% 35.3% 40.4% 31.9% 50.7%3 24.5% 34.1% 25.5% 14.9% 26.4% 22.4%Mean 1.77 2.12 1.75 1.49 1.68 1.87Std Dev 0.97 0.81 0.98 1.00 1.05 0.87

GT Regular

0 10.4% 15.3%1 22.4% 20.8%2 41.8% 40.3%3 25.4% 23.6%Mean 1.82 1.72Std Dev 0.94 1.00 27

Identity theft be taught

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 53.2% 48.8% 52.9% 57.4% 58.3% 47.8%1 30.2% 31.7% 27.5% 31.9% 25.0% 35.8%2 15.1% 17.1% 19.6% 8.5% 13.9% 16.4%3 1.4% 2.4% 0.0% 2.1% 2.8% 0.0%

Mean 0.65 0.73 0.67 0.55 0.61 0.69Std Dev 0.79 0.84 0.79 0.75 0.83 0.74

GT Regular

0 55.2% 51.4%1 32.8% 27.8%2 11.9% 18.1%3 0.0% 2.8%Mean 0.57 0.72Std Dev 0.70 0.86 28

Requires the topic of sexting be covered in school

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 56.8% 51.2% 52.9% 66.0% 56.9% 56.7%1 28.1% 29.3% 37.3% 17.0% 23.6% 32.8%2 10.1% 14.6% 7.8% 8.5% 11.1% 9.0%3 5.0% 4.9% 2.0% 8.5% 8.3% 1.5%Mean 0.63 0.73 0.59 0.60 0.71 0.55Std Dev 0.86 0.90 0.73 0.97 0.97 0.72

GT Regular

0 62.7% 51.4%1 28.4% 27.8%2 6.0% 13.9%3 3.0% 6.9%Mean 0.49 0.76Std Dev 0.75 0.94 29

Malware be taught

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 71.9% 75.6% 58.8% 83.0% 65.3% 79.1%1 19.4% 12.2% 31.4% 12.8% 25.0% 13.4%2 6.5% 9.8% 7.8% 2.1% 5.6% 7.5%3 2.2% 2.4% 2.0% 2.1% 4.2% 0.0%Mean 0.39 0.39 0.53 0.23 0.49 0.28Std Dev 0.71 0.77 0.73 0.60 0.79 0.60

GT Regular

0 74.6% 69.4%1 19.4% 19.4%2 6.0% 6.9%3 0.0% 4.2%Mean 0.31 0.46Std Dev 0.58 0.80 30

How would you like to learn more about C3

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How Would You Like to Learn More About Cyberbullying, Sexting and How to Protect

Yourself & Your computer

00.20.40.60.8

11.21.41.61.8

2

Paren

ts

Guida

nce

Couns

elors

Teach

ers

Peers

Assem

blies

Preference

Ra

tin

g S

ca

le Overall

6th

7th

8th

0=Not At All

1=Not Much

2=Some

3= A Lot

Parents

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 31.4% 22.0% 23.5% 47.9% 30.6% 32.4%1 18.6% 12.2% 21.6% 20.8% 15.3% 22.1%2 32.1% 39.0% 35.3% 22.9% 29.2% 35.3%3 17.9% 26.8% 19.6% 8.3% 25.0% 10.3%Mean 1.36 1.71 1.51 0.92 1.49 1.24Std Dev 1.11 1.10 1.07 1.03 1.17 1.02

GT Regular

0 32.8% 30.1%1 20.9% 16.4%2 31.3% 32.9%3 14.9% 20.5%Mean 1.28 1.44Std Dev 1.08 1.13 33

Assemblies

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 33.6% 39.0% 23.5% 39.6% 34.7% 32.4%1 20.0% 22.0% 17.6% 20.8% 23.6% 16.2%2 27.9% 26.8% 35.3% 20.8% 20.8% 35.3%3 18.6% 12.2% 23.5% 18.8% 20.8% 16.2%Mean 1.31 1.12 1.59 1.19 1.28 1.35Std Dev 1.13 1.08 1.10 1.16 1.15 1.10

GT Regular

0 23.9% 42.5%1 23.9% 16.4%2 31.3% 24.7%3 20.9% 16.4%Mean 1.49 1.15Std Dev 1.08 1.15 34

Teachers

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 30.0% 9.8% 29.4% 47.9% 37.5% 22.1%1 32.9% 22.0% 41.2% 33.3% 33.3% 32.4%2 26.4% 43.9% 21.6% 16.7% 16.7% 36.8%3 10.7% 24.4% 7.8% 2.1% 12.5% 8.8%Mean 1.18 1.83 1.08 0.73 1.04 1.32Std Dev 0.98 0.92 0.91 0.82 1.03 0.92

GT Regular

0 26.9% 32.9%1 35.8% 30.1%2 29.9% 23.3%3 7.5% 13.7%Mean 1.18 1.18Std Dev 0.92 1.05 35

Peers

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 32.9% 41.5% 29.4% 29.2% 37.5% 27.9%1 28.6% 26.8% 35.3% 22.9% 26.4% 30.9%2 28.6% 24.4% 29.4% 31.3% 22.2% 35.3%3 10.0% 7.3% 5.9% 16.7% 13.9% 5.9%Mean 1.16 0.98 1.12 1.35 1.13 1.19Std Dev 1.00 0.99 0.91 1.08 1.07 0.92

GT Regular

0 32.8% 32.9%1 25.4% 31.5%2 31.3% 26.0%3 10.4% 9.6%Mean 1.19 1.12Std Dev 1.02 0.99 36

Guidance Counselors

Not at all= 0 Not much=1 Some=2 A lot=3

Overall 6th 7th 8th Male Female

0 36.4% 14.6% 35.3% 56.3% 41.7% 30.9%1 37.9% 46.3% 37.3% 31.3% 38.9% 36.8%2 21.4% 36.6% 17.6% 12.5% 18.1% 25.0%3 4.3% 2.4% 9.8% 0.0% 1.4% 7.4%Mean 0.94 1.27 1.02 0.56 0.79 1.09Std Dev 0.87 0.74 0.97 0.71 0.79 0.93

GT Regular

0 40.3% 32.9%1 35.8% 39.7%2 20.9% 21.9%3 3.0% 5.5%Mean 0.87 1.00Std Dev 0.85 0.88 37

Short Answer Questions

• What can you do to protect yourself from cyberbullies?

• What would you do if a friend was cyberbullied?• What should you do if you received inappropriate

content on your cell phone?• What can you do to protect yourself from identity

theft?• What can you do to protect yourself from malware?

Conclusions• The majority of students surveyed at FQMS report

they know– nothing at all or not much about malware and identity

theft – not much to some about sexting

• Those who responded some, when asked what to do if they received an inappropriate message stated delete or ignore it

– some about cyberbullying• The most frequent answers to the question “what do you do if you

or a friend are cyberbullied” were– Don’t give out personal information– Don’t go to chat rooms/SNS– Tell an adult– Delete or ignore it

Conclusions

• The majority of students surveyed at FQMS report they learn about cyberethics, safety and security topics – most from parents and T.V. and the News and – least from siblings

• The majority of students surveyed at FQMS report they would like to learn more about these topics from their parents

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