The pilot study used in this thesis set out to address four research questions within a small sample of University of North Texas ( UNT) students regarding online music piracy in colleges and universities. This pilot study did so understanding the results gathered could not be validated as representative of the core values, attitudes, or perceptions of UNT students. Rather, this pilot study served as a test to determine if there were any interesting developments among the small sample which could serve useful to a larger research study. It is the belief of the author of this thesis that this study did accomplish its task. Results gathered from the DIT, online music file sharing survey, and focus groups allowed the author to interpret and form assumptions regarding student’s attitudes and reasoning toward online music piracy.

The author stresses while one of the main goals of this thesis was to remain unbiased when processing the data, the reader should understand when applying one’s own analysis, there is bound to be some personal bias included, whether conscious or not. However, while interpreting the results, readers should consider this study had several limitations. In serving as a pilot study, the research sample used should not be considered representative of the University of North Texas, nor the majority of its students or their departments and colleges. This study was also dependent on the honesty of the student participants in the study and the focus groups. Lastly, while no generalizations could be made regarding UNT students as a whole, the study did provide a basis for further research in this area.