A study of student's attitude to membership in pyramid companies at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during the academic year 2008-2009

Nowadays, one of the tangible and significant problems in our society is the subject of “crime with legal appearance” the most obvious of which are pyramid companies. Considering the fact that most people associated with such companies are from among the youth, and especially young university students, the researchers have tried to investigate the rate of tendency among the students at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad to take part in such companies. The present study was conducted as a survey. The population consisted of the entire number of students studying at Ferdowsi University during the academic year 2008-9. The sample of participants consisted of 290 people, randomly selected. The results indicated that the traditional social values affected the students’ tendency negatively, while the desire to enjoy a luxurious way of living influenced that inclination positively. Furthermore, variables such as family relationships, social satisfaction, using the Internet in a negative way, acquaintance with people associated with such companies, the desire to decrease the social gap, and a sense of social discrimination had also an indirect impact on the dependent variable.