Analysis Its Effective Causes of Crime in Cyberspace

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the occurrence of crime in cyberspace using a mixed approach.

This research is among the researches mixed with qualitative and quantitative approach which is descriptive-survey in terms of purpose, application and nature and method. The statistical population of the study consists of academic experts who were selected as sample members using the principle of theoretical adequacy and purposive sampling method. In the qualitative part of the research, semi-structured (in-depth) interviews were used to collect data, the validity and reliability of which were confirmed using CVR coefficient and Kappa-Cohen test, respectively. Atlas.ti software and coding method were analyzed and the effective factors of crime in cyberspace were identified. On the other hand, in the quantitative part, a pairwise comparison questionnaire was used to collect information, the validity and reliability of which were confirmed using content validity and incompatibility rate.

The results of the research indicate that based on judgments and surveys of experts, sixteen factors were introduced as effective factors in the occurrence of crime in cyberspace. The findings also show that the weakness of digital literacy of users, emotional, financial and information needs of individuals, cultural weakness, lack of appropriate and deterrent laws and regulations, inefficiency of security systems, inflation and corruption, rising unemployment and low risk of arrest are the most important causes. They are effective in the occurrence of criminal behaviors in cyberspace.