This research aims to gain insight into factors associated with individual’s experiences with cybercrime in Canada. Cybercrime refers to any type of crime that occurs online or through the use of a computer, such as fraud, hacking, or harassment. Eligible participants are Canadian residents eighteen years of age and older who have experienced at least one form of cybercrime in their lifetime. It is hoped that this study will expand current understanding of the psychological impacts of cybercrime experiences on individuals in Canada.
Research participants are kindly asked to volunteer approximately 25-30 minutes of their time to complete an online survey related to their cybercrime experiences. The survey will consist of a demographic questionnaire, questions specific to cybercrime experiences, and a variety of validated measures to assess psychological health. Please note that the psychological measures used in this study will not be used as diagnostic tools by the researchers.
Due to the sensitive topics in the questionnaires, participants may be at risk of experiencing discomfort or emotional distress as a result of certain questions. Should this occur, a list of supportive resources is provided on the consent form, the last page, and one “mental-health checkpoint” occurring within the survey. This checkpoint will ask if you consent to continue participating in the study. If you select “no,” all data collected from you will be deleted and none will be used in the research. If a question in the survey causes too much discomfort, you are welcome to refrain from responding to it. You can also withdraw your participation from this study at any time by pressing the “previous” button located at the bottom of the survey until you reach the consent page or the checkpoint, and then changing your answer to “no.” Simply closing your browser will not remove your data from the study. Due to the anonymous nature of the data collection, withdrawing will not be possible after the survey is submitted.
This study is designed to protect participants’ anonymity. No personally identifiable information will be collected at any point. Please do not include your name or contextual information that might directly or indirectly identify you.
