Internet Risk Perception: Development and Validation of a Scale for Adults

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Internet Studies
• Sociology

Background:

• Internet risk perception is crucial but lacks measurement tools for Spanish adults.
• Existing instruments do not cater to the specific nuances of the Spanish population.
• Understanding online risk awareness is vital for digital safety and policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the Spanish version of the Internet Risk Perception (IRP) Scale for adult Spanish citizens.
• To assess the reliability and construct validity of the IRP Scale in a Spanish context.
• To provide a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring Internet risk perception.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and expert panel validation (20 participants).
• Pilot testing with 517 Spanish adults (aged 18-77).
• Confirmatory factor analysis to assess reliability and validity.

Main Results:

• The confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated excellent data accuracy and model fit.
• The Spanish IRP Scale exhibited sufficient construct reliability and validity.
• The instrument is suitable for measuring Internet risk perception in adults.

Conclusions:

• The Spanish version of the Internet Risk Perception Scale is a reliable and valid tool.
• This validated scale can be used in research investigating online risk awareness among Spanish adults.
• The instrument supports further studies on digital safety and Internet usage behaviors in Spain.