Evaluating Visitor Engagement in Mixed Reality Digital Heritage Narratives via Structural Equation Modeling

This article presents a comprehensive protocol for evaluating the impact of mixed reality (MR) cultural narrative quality on visitor engagement and learning outcomes in digital heritage environments. While MR technologies offer novel platforms for cultural expression, a standardized method for quantifying their experiential and educational effectiveness remains limited. The protocol details a scenario-based, quantitative empirical research design utilizing a unified MR heritage prototype. Participants (N = 261) engage with the MR system, which integrates historical content, spatial narratives, and interactive information. Following the experience, data are collected using a structured questionnaire measuring core constructs: narrative quality, immersion, perceived authenticity, emotional connection, visitor engagement, and learning outcomes. The data are subsequently analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to map the structural relationships and mediating effects among these variables. Serving as representative results to validate this protocol, the findings confirm that high-quality MR narratives significantly enhance immersion and perceived authenticity, which subsequently drive emotional resonance and deeper visitor engagement. Ultimately, this heightened engagement translates into improved learning outcomes. By systematically capturing and analyzing these multilayered psychological and behavioral responses, this methodology provides a reliable framework for researchers and designers to assess and optimize the educational value of digital heritage experiences.