Influence User Behavior Research Articles

User avoidance behavior in pharmaceutical e-commerce intelligent customer service: a stressor-strain-outcome perspective

IntroductionThis study explores the implementation of Intelligent Customer Service (ICS) in pharmaceutical e-commerce, aiming to enhance user acceptance and service efficiency while addressing the psychological factors influencing user behavior. It expands the boundaries of technology acceptance research by focusing on ICS use and avoidance in high-risk environments.MethodA total of 418 valid questionnaires were collected from participants, ensuring data quality through rigorous screening. The study employed SPSS for data normality tests and SmartPLS for structural equation modeling to analyze the relationships between emotional stress, system overload, and user avoidance behavior.ResultsThe findings indicate that system overload, information overload, and service overload significantly contribute to user emotional stress, which in turn drives avoidance behavior. The analysis revealed strong explanatory power (R2 values ranging from 0.450 to 0.586) and confirmed the mediating role of emotional stress in the relationship between overload factors and user avoidance.DiscussionThis research highlights the critical role of emotional stress in user interactions with ICS, suggesting that pharmaceutical e-commerce companies must refine their ICS design to meet diverse user needs and reduce cognitive burdens. By leveraging big data and establishing robust feedback mechanisms, companies can enhance user experience and loyalty. The study also identifies limitations in demographic representation and suggests future research should incorporate qualitative methods for a deeper understanding of user behavior.

Design for Sustainable Behaviour: An Exploratory Study in Schools’ Washrooms

Recent research suggests that built environments can influence user behavior. Concurrently, Design for Sustainable Behaviour (DfSB) has emerged in design and manufacturing disciplines. This paper explores the application of DfSB in built environment design by devising and implementing a toolkit to prompt children to behave more sustainably in schools’ washrooms. The resource consumption before and after the toolkit installation in two primary schools was measured and compared. Afterward, interviews and a workshop were carried out to gather the perceptions of children and staff. Results show a preference for stickers that are playful and portray natural motifs. Also, the toolkit design concepts were not perceived by most users, suggesting it can be simplified and serve mainly as a reminder to perform a particular behavior. Yet, the interview participants suggested that the toolkit could indirectly contribute to more sustainable behaviors by creating a pleasant environment and prompting children to not play/waste resources. Additionally, the research reviews and classifies existing DfSB strategies into three categories, providing valuable insights for designers on tailoring interventions based on user control, attitudes, and targeted behaviors.

Digital Money: Opportunities, Challenges and the Future Outlook

Purpose: This study explores the opportunities, challenges, and the future outlook of emerging digital currencies in the like of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), cryptocurrencies, and stablecoins. The aim is to understand how these digital monetary forms are shaping the global digital currency ecosystem. Methodology: A systematic literature review of 281 studies on digital currencies, published between 2010 and 2024, was conducted. The review focused on identifying key themes such as the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies, privacy and anonymity concerns, and technological risks associated with digital currencies. Findings: The review unraveled several dominant themes, including increasing efforts by regulatory authorities to develop comprehensive frameworks to provide legal clarity, enhance consumer protection, and foster innovation in the digital finance sector. However, a significant gap was identified in the integration of regulatory frameworks with Behavioral Economic principles. To address this, the study proposes an integrated regulatory-behavioral framework to influence user behaviour and promote the secure and stable adoption of digital currencies. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The proposed regulatory-behavioral framework offers an innovative approach to digital currency regulation by integrating insights from Behavioral Economics. This contribution highlights the need for collaborative efforts among policymakers to ensure regulations evolve in tandem with advancements in digital financial technologies. The study envisions a future where CBDCs, cryptocurrencies, and stable coins coexist, with CBDCs playing a central role in establishing a stable, accessible, and efficient digital monetary system.

Identification of Surabaya Community Behavior Towards the Use of Wira Wiri Suroboyo as a Mode of Public Transportation

Wira Wiri Suroboyo is a public transportation system operated by the Surabaya city government since 2023, aimed at reducing traffic congestion and environmental pollution caused by private vehicle usage. Despite its introduction, this mode of transportation has not yet achieved a significant shift among residents toward adopting Wira Wiri Suroboyo. To address this, the government must understand the behavior of Surabaya's residents regarding public transportation usage. Behavioral insights can serve as critical input for designing effective strategies to encourage people to transition to Wira Wiri Suroboyo. This research focuses on identifying the behavioral patterns of Surabaya residents who choose Wira Wiri Suroboyo as their public transport option, utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework. TPB provides an analytical model to evaluate behavior based on an individual’s perceived control over their actions. Data for the study was collected through questionnaires distributed to Surabaya residents who use Wira Wiri Suroboyo. The findings reveal that attitude, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intentions significantly influence user behavior. However, the subjective norm variable does not substantially impact the behavioral intentions of the Surabaya community in this context.

A Study on Socio-Demographic Determinants of Digital Financial Literacy in India

Digital financial literacy has emerged as a key driver for fostering financial inclusion in India. As India has been witnessing rapid digitalization of financial services, digital financial literacy has become an imperative because of it’s transformative potential to spread awareness, knowledge and influence user behaviors towards adoption of digital financial services. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between various socio-economic and demographic factors and digital financial literacy variables in both rural and urban areas of India. The study relied on a mix of quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews from the respondents belonging to urban and rural areas spread across eight districts of India. The primary data collected underwent several statistical analyses, including the Chi-Square Test, Cramer’s V, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis to examine the relationships between socio-demographic factors and digital financial literacy. The study revealed a strong positive correlation between education, age and income with digital financial literacy, underscoring their substantial impact. In contrast, other socio-demographic factors like occupation and social stratification were found to have lesser influence on the digital financial literacy in view of their weaker correlations. The study revealed that digital financial literacy is gender neutral considering negligible correlation between gender and variables of digital financial literacy. The existence of digital divide between urban and rural areas was evident in the study as the rural population lags in digital financial literacy to their urban counterparts. Regression analysis further validates the predictive significance of age, education, and annual family income on digital financial literacy. The earlier research studies and available literature emphasize mainly supply side factors of digital financial literacy viz. measures taken by Governments, Regulators and Financial institutions. This study, focusing on demand side factors, put special emphasis on social and demographic variables and their degree of influence on digital financial literacy. Key findings emerged from the study identify the socio-demographic factors influencing digital financial literacy and offer insights for policy makers to identify gaps in financial education and design targeted strategies based on socio-demographic parameters for broadening digital financial literacy.

User Data and Digital Privacy: Privacy Policies of Social Media Platforms

This study examines how user data are collected, processed, and protected by analyzing the privacy policies and personal privacy violations of five of the world’s most widely used social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X [Twitter], YouTube and TikTok). This research adopts a qualitative approach and analyses current user data and past privacy violations through document analysis and case studies. It also evaluates platforms’ compliance with regulations such as GDPR and KVKK. The study revealed that platforms provide transparency in data management; however, users have difficulty understanding complex privacy policies and therefore cannot provide informed consent. Incidents such as Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal and TikTok’s data breach highlight the need for stronger data security measures and user-friendly control mechanisms. This study states that both users and platforms should take responsibility for protecting user privacy. Platforms should develop clearer privacy policies and strengthen data security, while users should increase their media literacy and manage their data effectively. In addition, regulators should ensure the enforcement of privacy laws and introduce stricter penalties for violations. The study concludes that more research is required on data privacy, cultural factors influencing user behavior, and the impact of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, on privacy practices.

Digital Abuse: How Dark Patterns Manipulate Our Lives

The digital economy in Russia and abroad is of growing interest to lawmakers, especially in the context of the use of so-called ‘dark patterns' — manipulative interface solutions that influence user behavior. BigTech companies consolidate their dominant position in the market by implementing innovative practices, many of which cannot be recognized as bona fide. The most prominent example of the implementation of user retention mechanisms through embedded features is the Tik Tok platform (Dou Yin). The Tik Tok phenomenon is still being studied by experts, but one of the clues is the unique recommendation feed that dynamically adjusts to the user's interests and is endless, creating the so-called “immersion effect”. The article examines Russian and international approaches to regulating these practices. Particular attention is paid to legislative initiatives and enforcement practices aimed at protecting consumer rights and limiting the use of manipulative practices on digital platforms. The Russian legislation is still focused on certain aspects of consumer protection and countering unfair competition, while Western countries introduce specialized norms to combat “dark patterns”. The aim of the article is to examine the existing norms and suggest ways to adapt successful foreign practices to the Russian legal context.

Exploring and Modeling Directional Effects on Steering Behavior in Virtual Reality.

Steering is a fundamental task in interactive Virtual Reality (VR) systems. Prior work has demonstrated that movement direction can significantly influence user behavior in the steering task, and different interactive environments (VEs) can lead to various behavioral patterns, such as tablets and PCs. However, its impact on VR environments remains unexplored. Given the widespread use of steering tasks in VEs, including menu adjustment and object manipulation, this work seeks to understand and model the directional effect with a focus on barehand interaction, which is typical in VEs. This paper presents the results of two studies. The first study was conducted to collect behavioral data with four categories: movement time, average movement speed, success rate, and reenter times. According to the results, we examined the effect of movement direction and built the SθModel. We then empirically evaluated the model through the data collected from the first study. The results proved that our proposed model achieved the best performance across all the metrics (r2 > 0.95), with more than 15% improvement over the original Steering Law in terms of prediction accuracy. Next, we further validated the SθModel by another study with the change of device and steering direction. Consistent with previous assessments, the model continues to exhibit optimal performance in both predicting movement time and speed. Finally, based on the results, we formulated design recommendations for steering tasks in VEs to enhance user experience and interaction efficiency.

Research on the Speed of Information Transmission and User Cognition in the New Media Era

This article explores the dynamics of information transmission speed and its impact on user cognition in the new media era. With the rapid evolution of digital technologies and social platforms, the speed at which information is shared and consumed has dramatically increased. This acceleration has reshaped how users perceive, process, and engage with content. The research examines how the fast-paced nature of information dissemination affects users' attention spans, critical thinking, and information retention. Additionally, it analyzes the potential cognitive overload caused by the constant influx of data and the role of algorithms in influencing user behavior and information consumption patterns. The findings highlight the need for a deeper understanding of how users navigate this complex media landscape and offer insights into improving digital literacy to help users make informed decisions in a high-speed information environment.

Beyond dislike counts: How YouTube users react to the visibility of social cues

This study investigates the impact of YouTube’s 2021 policy, which hides dislike counts and limits a form of negative social feedback. It examines how this change affects social media herding behavior—the tendency of users to align with the majority opinion. We adopted a mixed-method approach, incorporating an online experiment that simulates the YouTube interface and an Interrupted Time Series analysis of real-world user reactions, to assess how the policy affects user engagement. Specifically, we looked at how the absence of one-sided digital cues, combined with content characteristics and individual user predispositions, influences user behavior. Our findings suggest that YouTube’s initiative to boost platform positivity had limited success: user responses were more influenced by their ideological leanings than by visible digital cues; Hiding dislikes reduced commenting frequencies and inadvertently increased negative expression. These results highlight the stronger role of ideological beliefs over social cues in shaping engagement, challenging the presumed impact of audience conformity and the negativity bias on social media dynamics.

Variable Message Signs in Traffic Management: A Systematic Review of User Behavior and Future Innovations

Effective traffic management is crucial in addressing the growing complexities of urban mobility, and variable message signs (VMSs) play a vital role in delivering real-time information to road users. Despite their widespread application, there is limited comprehensive understanding of how VMS influence user behavior and optimize traffic flow. This systematic literature review aims to address this gap by examining the effectiveness of VMS in shaping user interactions and enhancing traffic management systems. Using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) methodology, a thorough analysis of relevant studies was conducted to identify key factors influencing VMS impact, including message content and characteristics, complementary sources of information, user demographics, VMS location, and users’ reliance on these signs. Additionally, the review explores the implications of displaying non-critical information on VMS and introduces virtual dynamic message signs (VDMSs) as an innovative approach for delivering public traveler information. The study identifies several research gaps, such as the integration of VMS with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies, navigation systems, the need for validation in real-world scenarios, and understanding behavioral responses to non-critical information on VMS. This review highlights the importance of optimizing VMS for improved user engagement and traffic management, providing valuable insights and directions for future research in this evolving field.

A Study of the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Consumer Decision Making

The article considers not only the obvious benefits of using AI, but also potential risks associated with changing consumer behavior. The study introduces the User Engagement Index (UEI), which allows measuring and comparing user activity and interaction with marketplaces, considering the influence of AI. The proposed methodology can become the basis for further research in the field of human-artificial intelligence interaction in the digital environment. The UEI formula allows for a comprehensive assessment of user engagement, considering several key factors that influence user behavior on the site.

Evaluating and Modeling the Effect of Frame Rate on Steering Performance in Virtual Reality.

Prior work has shown that frame rate significantly influences user behavior in fast-response tasks in 2D and 3D contexts. However, its impact on a steering task, which involves navigating an object along a path from the start to the end, remains relatively unexplored, especially in the context of virtual reality (VR). This task is considered a typical non-fast-response activity, as it does not demand rapid reactions within a limited time frame. Our work aims to understand and model users' steering behavior and predict movement time with different task complexities and frame rates in VR environments. We first conducted a user study to collect user behavior in a steering task with four factors: frame rate, path length, width, and radius of curvature. Based on the results, we then quantified the effects of frame rate and built two predictive models. Our models exhibited the best fit ([Formula: see text]) and over 17% improvement in prediction accuracy for movement time compared to existing models. Our models' robustness was further validated by applying them to predict steering performance with different VR tasks and frame rates. The two models keep the best predictability for both movement time and speed.

Investigating the Factors Influencing User Loyalty, Purchase Intention, and Word-of-Mouth in Virtual Reality

Abstract This study investigates the determinants of loyalty, purchase intention, and word-of-mouth (WOM) recommendations in the context of virtual reality (VR) technology, focusing on sensory design components such as visual (color, navigation design, aesthetics, shape, and product design), tactile (touch), and auditory (audio) elements. Employing partial least squares structural equation modeling, data from individuals experienced with VR headsets were analyzed to explore how these sensory aspects influence user behavior. Contrary to expectations, color did not significantly influence attitude or satisfaction. Navigation design significantly impacted both user attitude and satisfaction, highlighting its importance in the VR experience. While aesthetics were found to positively affect user attitude, they did not significantly influence satisfaction. Interestingly, the shape of VR devices influenced satisfaction but not attitude. The product design of VR devices significantly affected both attitude and satisfaction, but audio factors did not significantly impact either. The results indicate that user attitude significantly influences loyalty, purchase intention, and WOM, as does user satisfaction. This reveals the critical role of design and sensory elements in shaping user experiences and preferences within VR environments, offering insights for developers and marketers aiming to enhance user engagement and loyalty.

The mediating role of behavioral intention on factors influencing user behavior in the E-government state financial application system at the Indonesian Ministry of Finance

The mediating role of behavioral intention on factors influencing user behavior in the E-government state financial application system at the Indonesian Ministry of Finance

The intention of adopting blockchain technology in agri-food supply chains: evidence from an Indian economy

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the underlying intention behind using blockchain technology (BLCT) in the agri-food supply chain (AFSC). This is achieved by using a conceptual framework based on technology acceptance models that considers various factors influencing user behavior toward implementing this technology in their practices.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptual framework developed is empirically validated using structural equation modeling (SEM). A total of 258 respondents from agri-food domain in India were involved in this survey, and their responses were analyzed through SEM to validate our conceptual framework.FindingsThe findings state that food safety and security, traceability, transparency and cost highly influence the intention to use BLCT. Decision-makers of the AFSCs are more inclined to embrace BLCT if they perceive the usefulness of the technology as valuable and believe it will enhance their productivity.Practical implicationsThis study contributes to the existing literature by providing thorough examination of the variables that influence the intention to adopt BLCT within the AFSC. The insights aim to benefit industry decision-makers, supply chain practitioners and policymakers in their decision-making processes regarding BLCT adoption in the AFSC.Originality/valueThis study investigates how decision-makers’ perceptions of BLCT influence their intention to use it in AFSCs, as well as the impact of the different underlying factors deemed valuable in the adoption process of this technology.

The Role of Genuine Human Faces and Social Presence in Charitable Websites

Abstract In the digital age, charitable organizations increasingly rely on websites as crucial platforms for fundraising, outreach, and communication. Integrating human traits to digital interfaces as a mean to improve the user’s attitude and experience is a well-researched topic with various case studies. This study investigates the impact of images featuring genuine human faces and perceived social scenarios on user engagement metrics within the context of charitable websites, focusing on trust perception, social media sharing behavior, and donation willingness. A controlled A/B/C test was conducted, presenting participants with three versions of a charitable website: one displaying a stack of books (Version A), another showcasing a stock image of children in school (Version B), and the third featuring a genuine photo of Romanian children engaged in learning activities (Version C). Data was collected from 150 respondents (50 for each version), and quantitative analysis was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of each background image in influencing user behavior. Results shown that authentic photographs evoke more trust and willingness to donate to a cause among Romanian respondents. The conclusions of this paper can be used to further improve the results of online crowdfunding efforts of charitable organizations.

The proteus effect on human pain perception through avatar muscularity and gender factors

The Proteus effect, which occurs when using an avatar in virtual reality, influences user behavior, changes attitudes, and improves physical performance. Here, we show that human pain perception can be alleviated by the Proteus effect. To investigate the pain alleviation effect of using an avatar in a virtual environment, we conducted two experiments using a head-mounted display and a thermal pain stimulator to induce acute pain. The first experiment involved 20 adult participants, while the second experiment involved 44 adult participants. Experimental results show that participants reported significantly lower pain scores (15.982% reduction), as measured by the Pain Assessment Scale (PAS), when using a muscular avatar than when using a normal avatar. The experiments also revealed several significant gender factors. For example, participants reported significantly lower pain scores when using a gender-congruent avatar. In addition, the use of a muscular avatar was particularly effective for male participants. In contrast, female participants consistently reported lower pain scores when using the avatar regardless of its body type (muscular/normal). To further our understanding, we also measured participants’ gender-related pain stereotypes using the Gender Role Expectations of Pain (GREP) questionnaire, as well as participants’ sense of embodiment. The results of these questionnaires are consistent with the results of the PAS, suggesting possible relationships between stereotypes and the Proteus effect on pain perception, and between the degree of immersion in an avatar and the user’s perception of pain.

Place and Independence Are Formed by Moving Furniture

In contemporary architectural design, a noticeable trend emerges in the meticulous planning of common areas, with an emphasis on fostering the free movements of users within these areas. It is important to consider the architectural elements that influence user behavior in these environments. Previous studies have delved into the relationship between architecture and user activity, often through questionnaires and activity surveys conducted in arbitrary spaces. However, such data are discontinuous and only capture a portion of the space. Therefore, in this study, continuous and extensive recordings were performed in an arbitrary space using a video camera to capture the entirety of the area. Consequently, we were able to comprehend the relationship between architecture and people’s activities and observe the formation of user autonomy through their decisions to rearrange furniture. Furthermore, an “Open Pose” system was used to detect people and generate a user stay distribution chart. This was achieved by converting it into a plan view using perspective projection transformation, thereby obtaining objective data automatically. Consequently, we verified the feasibility of conducting visually comprehensible processing using tools like “Open Pose”, which was used in one segment of the experiment.

Effects of Market Size and Competition in Two-Sided Markets: Evidence from Online Dating

The paper investigates network effects in online dating, focusing on how market and competition size influence user behavior and matching decisions.