The Virtues of Taiwanese Internet-Using Adolescents: The Development and Validation of the Cyber Virtues Scale

Abstract

Given the importance of cultivating users' positive behaviors in cyberspace, this study presents a comprehensive vision of how to address important virtues that might foster Taiwanese adolescents' positive behaviors in cyberspace. In this study, we constructed an instrument-the Cyber Virtues Scale (CVS)-for measuring the underlying dimensions of Taiwanese adolescents' virtuous behaviors in online settings. Research data were gathered from 607 elementary and junior high school students in different Taiwan's geographic areas. The CVS model has been empirically validated via exploratory factor analysis. The final version of the CVS consists of 5 core virtues in cyberspace: interpersonal interaction, knowledge accumulation, social justice, information sharing and self-discipline. These results will also strengthen the digital generation by cultivating their positive behaviors in cyberspace.