Framing, Certainty and Gender Effects on Security Strategy Decision: The Moderating Role of Risk Perception

Abstract

This study used a 2x2x2 factorial design to examine framing, certainty and gender effects on security strategy decision. One hundred and twenty (60 male, 60 female) first year students of psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, whose ages ranged from 16-29 years (M = 20.35 years, SD =2.85 years) participated in the study. Framing was varied into positive and negative framing conditions certainty was varied into certainty and uncertainty conditions, while gender was categorized into male and female. The domain specific risk taking scale for the adult population, tackling insecurity in Nigeria, and the security strategy decision inventory were the study materials used to measure risk perception, manipulate framing and certainty, and assess security strategy decision respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) result revealed significant main effects of framing and certainty on security strategy decision, F(1, 112) = 97.80, p < .001 and F(1, 112) = 169.95, p < .001 respectively. Gender, however, had no significant effect on security strategy decision. Moderated regression analysis showed that risk perception significantly moderated the relationship between certainty and security strategy decision (β =.36, t = 3.78, p < .001). The interaction effect between framing and gender was significant, F (1, 112) = 7.58, p < .01. The implications and limitations of these findings were discussed and suggestions were made for future studies.