Psychological predictors of consumer-level virtual reality technology adoption and usage

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Psychology
• Consumer Technology

Background:

• Consumer virtual reality (VR) devices are increasingly accessible.
• Understanding factors influencing VR adoption and sustained use is crucial for technology diffusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate psychological traits, individual innovativeness, social well-being, and demographics in predicting VR adoption and sustained use.
• To analyze these factors across different VR device types (fixed, mobile, standalone).

Main Methods:

• Survey-based research examining psychological traits (e.g., immersive tendencies, absorption, sensation seeking, need for cognition, neophobia, belief in science).
• Assessment of individual innovativeness, self-perception of social well-being, and owner demographics.
• Separate analyses for fixed, mobile, and standalone VR devices.

Main Results:

• Psychological factors were more influential in VR adoption than demographics.
• Immersive tendencies predicted earlier adoption; absorption predicted later adoption, with both linked to higher initial usage.
• Positive self-perception of social success correlated with higher initial VR usage; belief in science predicted consistent usage, while absorption showed unstable usage patterns.

Conclusions:

• Individual psychological differences play a significant role in the adoption and continued use of consumer VR technology.
• Psychometric approaches offer valuable insights into understanding VR diffusion patterns.
• Future research should leverage psychometrics to further explore user engagement with emerging VR technologies.