Embedding Governance in AI Security Culture: From Trust Calibration to Accountable Decisions

Embedding Governance in AI Security Culture: From Trust Calibration to Accountable Decisions | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Embedding Governance in AI Security Culture: From Trust Calibration to Accountable Decisions Justyna Żywiołek, Radosław Wolniak, Wieslaw Wes Grebski This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8219886/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study develops and validates a multidimensional framework of security culture tailored to AI-enabled decision-making in public administration and higher education. Drawing on a mixed-methods design combining qualitative elicitation, psychometric validation, structural equation modeling, and experimental testing, the research identifies five interrelated cultural dimensions: role clarity and accountability in human–AI collaboration, psychological safety to contest AI outputs, awareness of bias and corrective routines, disciplined use of explanations, and an ethical climate. Results show that a strong AI-aware security culture enhances cyber situational awareness, which in turn improves trust calibration between human confidence and algorithmic reliability, ultimately leading to higher decision quality. Experimental evidence demonstrates that explanation-rich interfaces increase accuracy, efficiency, and calibration, while accountability cues strengthen policy adherence and reduce reliance errors. The study also introduces governance key performance indicators (KPIs) that embed cultural and behavioral insights into auditable management frameworks. Findings highlight that secure and effective reliance on AI requires not only technical integration but also human-centered culture, transparent interfaces, ethical norms, and institutionalized governance mechanisms. The proposed framework advances both theory and practice by offering a validated, transferable tool for diagnosing, developing, and auditing security culture in the era of AI. AI security culture trust calibration explainable AI (XAI) ethical climate cyber situational awareness governance KPIs human–AI collaboration decision quality public administration higher education Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 16 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 28 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 24 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 15 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 15 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 15 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 15 Jan, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 15 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 20 Dec, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 20 Dec, 2025 First submitted to journal 27 Nov, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8219886","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":576033415,"identity":"7b8f1690-694c-404e-b745-3120aa992802","order_by":0,"name":"Justyna 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