Lectures

Seminar: Human Behaviour with regard to Privacy, Cybersecurity, and AI

Basic Information

Learning Goals

• Students critically analyze how individuals and groups perceive, decide about, and act on privacy, cybersecurity, and AI-related risks, and identify the psychological, social, and contextual factors that shape these behaviors.
• They acquire theoretical and practical knowledge of behavioral models and learn to apply them to explain gaps between stated concern and actual protective behavior across different user groups.
• Through case studies and empirical methods, students acquire the skills to design for, evaluate, and critique interventions aimed at supporting informed, confident decision-making around privacy, security, and AI use.

Module Description

This seminar examines why people's privacy and security behavior often diverges from their stated concerns and intentions, and what determines whether protective action happens at all. Drawing on behavioral and psychological research, it explores factors such as self-efficacy, risk perception, trust, and social influence to understand this gap, and asks what it means for the design of technology, education, and policy meant to support better decisions.

The seminar is structured around core thematic areas including usable privacy and security, behavioral and psychological models of protective action, and the design and evaluation of interventions such as literacy training, nudges, peer-based support, and AI-based approaches.

Building on core knowledge in information systems and human-computer interaction, the course combines empirical research methods with analytical practice. Students engage with qualitative and/or quantitative approaches to studying behavior, conduct independent research, write academic papers, and present their findings in a seminar format. The seminar prepares students for master's theses and research-focused careers in usable security and privacy, human-centered AI, and behavioral research in technology contexts.

General: 

This module is limited to 30 participants. A two-stage registration procedure with different deadlines applies. You have to take part in both stages.

Stage 1: Application 
Deadline: 21 September 2026 – 05 October 2026

Module Application via QIS: My Functions > Lectures occupy/sign off (Instruction Module Application)

Stage 2: Exam Registration and Withdrawal 

Deadline: 08 October 2026 – 21 October 2026

Exam Registration and Withdrawal via QIS: My Functions > Administration of exams (Instruction Exam Registration)

An acceptance in the application procedure entitles students to register for the allocated module, but it does not replace an exam registration. Without an exam registration in stage 2, the allocated module claim of the module application in stage 1 expires!

Assignment of Available Capacities: 22 October 2026 – Detailed information will be published on this website in due time.

For exchange students

Module application as well as exam registration and withdrawal is not possible via QIS. Exchange students register or withdraw with a form within the exam registration and withdrawal deadline (not application deadline!). Forms and information are available at the Website of the Faculty's International Office.

Assessment

Successful completion of a portfolio and regular attendance; no written test in the central examination phase. The portfolio elements are completed during the course. The type and scope of the individual portfolio elements will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Information on exam dates and retake exams will be published on this website at the beginning of the semester.

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