Trust Propensity Research Articles

Development of a measurement instrument for pedestrians’ initial trust in automated vehicles

Considering that a significant portion of the current pedestrian population has limited exposure to automated vehicles (AVs), it is crucial to have a reliable instrument for assessing pedestrians’ initial trust in AVs. Using a survey of 436 pedestrians, this study developed and validated a PITQA (Pedestrians’ Initial Trust Questionnaire for AVs) scale using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The proposed scale will be valuable in monitoring the progression of trust over time and considering trust-related factors during the design process. The results revealed that seven key constructs significantly contribute to predicting initial trust between pedestrians and AVs. These constructs include propensity to trust, perceived statistical reliability, dependability and competence, perceived predictability, familiarity, authority/subversion, care/harm, and sanctity/degradation. These shed light on how the trust propensity of individuals, different trust/trustworthiness attributes might constitute different aspects of initial trust in the pedestrian-AV context. The developed scale can be a potentially useful tool for future research endeavors concerning trust calibration and the design of AVs specifically tailored for vulnerable road users.

Why do we invest online? An empirical study of online crowdfunding in China

Purpose The emergence of crowdfunding has provided a new way to solve the problem of financing difficulties for start-ups. Although crowdfunding has attracted great attention from the government and industry, investors are still hesitating to invest online. This paper aims to investigate the investment behavior of China’s debt-based internet crowdfunding market and construct a model to explain online investment decisions from the perspectives of trust and economic valence. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses the survey method to verify the research model. The questionnaire was constructed based on the items in prior studies. The data were collected from users with project investment experience on a leading crowdfunding platform in China. A total of 474 valid responses were collected. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling was used in the data analysis. Findings This paper finds that initial trust and perceived benefits are the key factors influencing investment intentions; investors are more concerned about potential benefits than about risk; perceived benefits partially mediate the relationship between initial trust and investment intentions. Fundraisers’ reputation is also found to have a greater impact on investors’ initial trust than investors’ trust propensity. Originality/value The conclusions of this paper provide important insights into the design of internet crowdfunding platforms and the regulation of policymakers.

Connectome-based prediction of decreased trust propensity in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Trust propensity (TP) relies more on social than economic rationality to transform the perceived probability of betrayal into positive reciprocity expectations in older adults with normal cognition. While deficits in social rationality have been observed in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), there is limited research on TP and its associated resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) mechanisms in this population. To measure TP and related psychological functions (affect, motivation, executive cognition, and social cognition), MCI (n = 42) and normal healthy control (NHC, n = 115) groups completed a one-shot trust game and additional assessments of related psychological functions. RSFC associated with TP was analyzed using connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) and lesion simulations. Our behavioral results showed that the MCI group trusted less (i.e., had lower TP) than the NHC group, with lower TP associated with higher sensitivity to the probability of betrayal in the MCI group. In the MCI group, only negative CPM models (RSFC negatively correlated with TP) significantly predicted TP, with a high salience network (SN) contribution. In contrast, in the NHC group, positive CPM models (RSFC positively correlated with TP) significantly predicted TP, with a high contribution from the default mode network (DMN). In addition, the total network strength of the NHC-specific positive network was lower in the MCI group than in the NHC group. Our findings demonstrated a decrease in TP in the MCI group compared to the NHC group, which is associated with deficits in social rationality (social cognition, associated with DMN) and increased sensitivity to betrayal (affect, associated with SN) in a trust dilemma. In conclusion, our study contributes to understanding MCI-related alterations in trust and their underlying neural mechanisms.

Exploring trust determinants influencing the intention to use fintech via SEM approach: Evidence from Pakistan

Many fintech consumers are hesitant to perform online transactions given the lack of trust in online companies. In response to this reality, we construct and evaluate a trust-theoretic user acceptability model for financial technologies. The research seeks to look at the influence of trust on the intention to use fintech. A sampling of potential users in Pakistan is used to validate the model experimentally. Smart PLS 3 has been used to robust the theorized configuration of constructs (structural equation modeling) based on 275 survey responses. Contrary to other scenarios, the findings indicate that "customer trust in fintech" is more important than other aspects in determining technology adoption. Pakistani consumers' intention is positively affected by trust. Trust facilitators influence consumers' trust; among them, trust propensity is the factor having high values, followed by perceived size, interaction with online customers, perceived benefit, third-party seal, perceived ease of use, and perceived reputation.

VR 게임 이용자의 지각된 진정성이 재구매 의도에 미치는 영향 : 지각된 가치, 몰입의 매개효과 및 신뢰 성향의 조절효과

VR 게임 이용자의 지각된 진정성이 재구매 의도에 미치는 영향 : 지각된 가치, 몰입의 매개효과 및 신뢰 성향의 조절효과

Measuring the Propensity to Trust in Automated Technology: Examining Similarities to Dispositional Trust in Other Humans and Validation of the PTT-A Scale

In this work, an integrative theoretical structure for the propensity to trust (PTT) is derived from literature. In an online study (N = 669), the validity of the structure was assessed and compared in two domains: propensity to trust in humans (PTT-H) and propensity to trust in automated technology (PTT-A). Based on this, an economic scale to measure PTT-A was derived and its psychometric quality was explored based on the first and an additional second study. The observed correlational pattern to basic personality traits supports the convergent validity of PTT-A. Moreover, discriminative predictive validity of PTT-A over PTT-H was supported by its higher relationships to technology-related outcomes. Additionally, incremental validity of PTT-A over basic personality traits was supported. Finally, the internal validity of the scale was replicated in an independent sample and re-test reliability was established. The findings support the added value of integrating PTT-A in research on the interaction with automated technology.

A signaling theory-based analysis of website features, investment perception and trust propensity in initial trust formation on unfamiliar small online retailers

ABSTRACT Unfamiliar online retailers far exceed the number of familiar stores, yet they lack consumer trust that may result in lower sales and, ultimately, failure. This study develops and tests a conceptual framework using the signaling theory to understand how marketing signals of the website features influence consumer website investment perception and initial trust formation in unfamiliar small online retailers. Path analysis reveals that the indirect effect of website investment furnishes insights into the differential impact of website features on initial trust formation. Results also show that lower trust propensity significantly dampens initial trust formation in a low-investment situation. The study provides implications for practice and directions for future research.

Influence of customer physical resource on customer loyalty : A mediation study

The notions of resource integration and value co-creation have become popular after the emergence of the Service-Dominant Logic. Several research investigations have been made to understand organizational resources and capabilities but research initiatives in the field of customer resources have been relatively scarce. Moreover, discussions on resource based capabilities have been mostly confined to strategic management and never explored with respect to marketing or consumer behaviour. This study by considering resource based capabilities as the exogenous variable and customer loyalty as the endogenous variable explores whether strategic resource capabilities have any implications in the domain of consumer behaviour. Based on Eric Arnould’s customer resource classification, this study investigates whether the higher order customer physical resource reflected through cognitive absorption, trust propensity and perceived self-efficacy can mediate between online grocers’ resource based capability and the customers’ store loyalty. The study was conducted in the Bengaluru city of India using snowball sampling technique and the data were analysed using PLS SEM. The result suggests that customer physical resource does mediate between online grocery store’s resource based capability and store loyalty. This research initiative has brought forth an altogether new perspective in understanding customer loyalty. Loyalty does not only depend on the value which is delivered by the firms but it is also influenced by the level of resource contributed by the customers’ themselves during the shopping process. Also, this study for the first time has demonstrated that cognitive absorption, trust, propensity and perceived self efficacy can be the manifestations of personal resource which is a contribution to the extant literature.

Exploring the influence of Chinese online patient trust on telemedicine behavior: insights into perceived risk and behavior intention.

As a supplement to medical services, telemedicine is of great significance to alleviate the shortage of health resources in China. Based on the traditional consumer behavior measurement model the Technology Acceptance Mode/Theory of Planned Behavior (TAM/TPB), this paper divides online patient trust into six dimensions: perceived risk, personal trust tendency, doctors' credibility, hospitals' credibility, websites' credibility, and system guarantee. On this basis, a structural equation model (SEM) was used to explore the influence of each dimension of online patient trust on online patient intention, behavior choice, and pre-factors. A total of 582 valid questionnaires were distributed to selected patients with experience in using mobile healthcare services in the vicinity of hospitals and communities, as well as to users who shared their experiences in the discussion forums of mobile healthcare websites. The results show that online patient trust has a significant positive impact on telemedicine behavior intention selection, with a standardized path coefficient being as high as 0.866. Doctors' credibility, system guarantee, and website credibility have significant positive effects on online patient trust, with standardized path coefficients of 0.401, 0.260, and 0.226, respectively. Hospital trustworthiness and personal trust propensity have no significant effect on online patient trust. Perceived risk has a significant negative effect on online patient trust, with a standardized path coefficient of -0.118. The research findings suggest that health departments and mobile healthcare providers can enhance mobile healthcare services by considering the patients' perspectives, elevate their online trust levels, and foster a deeper understanding, safety consciousness, and confidence in telehealth services. On this basis, it can be concluded that only the participation of government, medical subjects, and online patients can effectively reduce perceived risks, improve perceived characteristics of online patients, enhance online patient trust, and promote the real willingness and behavior choice for online medical services, effectively improving the positive role of telemedicine in increasing health benefits to people.

Understanding carpooling intentions of Generation Z of India: a structural equation modeling approach

ABSTRACT This study explores the drivers and barriers to the adoption of carpooling by Generation Z in India. A conceptual framework, based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB), was developed by adding three more variables: energy saving self-identity, trust propensity and perceived risk to the original three variables. An online survey based on convenience sampling was conducted to gather data from 335 respondents. PLS structural equation modeling results proved the predictive relevance of the model. Perceived behavioral control, attitude, and trust propensity, respectively showed a significant positive direct impact on the intentions to carpool. Results further conclude that the intention to carpool does not develop through the individual’s self-identity as an energy saver. However, if a positive attitude toward adopting carpooling, a feeling of ease to carpool and a level of trust in carpool is high, then the energy-saving self-identity will develop carpooling intention. The insignificant impact of perceived risk on carpooling intention further reveals that Generation Z, which is being seen as an eco-conscious consumer; does not perceive any risk in carpooling. The novelty of this study is that, it is focused on a particular generation i.e. Z, whose consumption behavior stands apart from the previous generations.

The effectiveness of influencer endorsements for smart technology products: the role of follower number, expertise domain and trust propensity

Purpose Considering the growth of the at-home smart technology industry and the increasing power of social media influencers, this study aims to examine how influencer endorsements affect individuals’ attitudes and trial intentions toward smart technology products. Design/methodology/approach An online experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of follower number and expertise domain of influencers and the trust propensity of individuals on their attitudinal and behavioral responses to influencer endorsements of smart technology products. The moderated mediation effect of perceived credibility was further examined. Findings The results demonstrated that individuals with lower trust propensity responded more positively to a microinfluencer with fewer followers and a specific area of expertise, which led to favorable attitudes and increased intention to try a smart technology product. However, the expertise domain was not a significant factor for the megainfluencer condition with a more extensive follower base. Interestingly, the interaction effects were not observed for individuals with higher trust propensity. Practical implications The results of this research provide practical implications for marketers who look for effective strategies for influencer marketing by demonstrating the significant impact of source-related cues, including follower number and expertise domain. Originality/value Based on the modality, agency, interactivity and navigability; source credibility; and persuasion knowledge models, this research explains how source-related cues of influencers affect credibility judgment, attitude formation and trial intentions for new technology products and how trust propensity as a personal dispositional factor varies the relationship.

A realist synthesis of prospective entrustment decision making by entrustment or clinical competency committees.

The real-world mechanisms underlying prospective entrustment decision making (PEDM) by entrustment or clinical competency committees (E/CCCs) are poorly understood. To advance understanding in this area, the authors conducted a realist synthesis of the published literature to address the following research question: In E/CCC efforts to make defensible prospective entrustment decisions (PEDs), what works, for whom, under what circumstances and why? Realist work seeks to understand the contexts (C), mechanisms (M) and outcomes (O) that explain how and why things work (or do not). In the authors' study, contexts included individual E/CCC members, E/CCC structures and processes, and training programmes. The outcome (i.e. desired outcome) was a PED. Mechanisms were a substantial focus of the analysis and informed the core findings. To define a final corpus of 52 included papers, the authors searched four databases, screened all results from those searches and performed a full-text review of a subset of screened papers. Data extraction focused on developing context-mechanism-outcome configurations from the papers, which were used to create a theory for how PEDM leads to PEDs. PEDM is often driven by default (non-deliberate) decision making rather than a deliberate process of deciding whether a trainee should be entrusted or not. When defaulting, some E/CCCs find red flags that sometimes lead to being more deliberate with decision making. E/CCCs that seek to be deliberate describe PEDM that can be effortful (when data are insufficient or incongruent) or effortless (when data are robust and tell a congruent story about a trainee). Both information about trainee trustworthiness and the sufficiency of data about trainee performance influence PEDM. Several moderators influence what is considered to be sufficient data, how trustworthiness data are viewed and how PEDM is carried out. These include perceived consequences and associated risks, E/CCC member trust propensity, E/CCC member personal knowledge of and experience with trainees and E/CCC structures and processes. PEDM is rarely deliberate but should be. Data about trainee trustworthiness are foundational to making PEDs. Bias, equity and fairness are nearly absent from the papers in this synthesis, and future efforts must seek to advance understanding and practice regarding the roles of bias, equity and fairness in PEDM.

Explaining Trust Divergence: Bifurcations in a Dynamic System

When people experience the same automation, their trust in automation can diverge. Prior research has used individual differences—trust propensity and complacency—to explain this divergence. We argue that bifurcation as an outcome of a dynamic system better explains trust divergence. Linear mixed-effect models were used to identify features to predict trust (i.e., individual differences, automation reliability, and exposure). Individual differences associated with trust propensity and complacency increases the R2 of the baseline model by 0.01, from R2 = 0.40 to 0.41. Furthermore, the Best Linear Unbiased Predictors (BLUPS) for random effect of participants were uncorrelated with trust propensity and complacency. In contrast, modeling trust divergence from a dynamic perspective, which considers the interaction between reliability and exposure along with the individual by-reliability variability fit the data well ( R2 = 0.84). These results suggest dynamic interaction with automation produce trust divergence and design should focus on state dependence and responsivity.

Initial trust formation on shared autonomous vehicles: Exploring the effects of personality-, transfer- and performance-based stimuli

Building initial trust is critical for the acceptance of shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs). Initial trust determines whether this emerging mobility solution will be accepted when it is available in the market. This study examines the initial trust formation process in the context of SAVs using the elaboration likelihood model and trust transfer theory. It investigates the effects of different personality-based, transfer-based, and performance-based factors on initial trust and adoption intention. A structural equation modelling is conducted in Singapore based on valid survey design principles, sampling protocols, and data analysis procedures. Results show that among three trust-building paths, the performance-based factors which include SAV capability and interaction quality are the most important. The transfer-based (i.e., trust in shared mobility) and personality-based factor (i.e., trust propensity) rank second and third, respectively. Six moderators such as covid history and shared mobility experience are also tested to investigate significant differences in the results. Based on these findings, this study offers theoretical and policy implications for scholars and practitioners.

Building mechanism of the initial trust motivation of owners toward contractors

Purpose This paper aims to study the initial trust of the owner to the contractor, establish the initial trust mechanism, explore the factors that affect the initial trust of the owner to the contractor and analyze its influence mechanism. Based on this, it is easy for the owners and contractors to take targeted measures to improve the initial trust, which is conducive to the sustainable development of the project. Design/methodology/approach On the basis of reading a large amount of literature, this paper constructs the occurrence mechanism of the owner's initial trust to the contractor from the five factors of trust propensity, trust belief, trustee’s characteristics, institution-based trust, trust motivation and from the perspective of the owner using the structural equation model for questionnaire survey and empirical analysis. Findings The results of this paper show that the institution-based trust, the trustee’s characteristics and the trust belief of the trustor clearly have a positive effect on trust motivation, and the trustee’s characteristics have the most significant effect on the trust motivation. The influence of trust propensity on trust motivation was not significant. Originality/value This paper studies the occurrence mechanism of the owner's initial trust in the contractor, discusses its influencing factors and analyzes the influence of these factors on the initial trust, which enriches the theoretical system of initial trust research. The results of this study can help owners and contractors to develop targeted measures to build good initial trust.

The connectome-based prediction of trust propensity in older adults: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

A recent neuropsychoeconomic model of trust propensity argues that an individual uses economic (executive functions) and social (social cognition) rationality strategies to transform the risk of treachery (affect) into positive expectations of reciprocity, promoting trust in another person. Previous studies have shown that the trust of older adults is associated with affect and social cognition. However, little is known about the intrinsic functional connectivity correlated with trust propensity or whether trust propensity is associated with executive functions in older adults. In this study, we examined the association between trust propensity (measured by a one-shot trust game [TG]), social preference (measured by a one-shot dictator game), and executive functions (measured by a battery of neuropsychological tests). We also performed connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) and computational lesion analysis to identify the key large-scale resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) underlying the prediction of trust propensity. Our behavioral results showed a lower trust propensity in older adults in our study than in younger adults in a previous meta-analysis. Furthermore, trust propensity was associated with social preference, but there was no significant relationship between trust propensity and executive functions. The neuroimaging results showed that the cingulo-opercular network (CON) and the default mode network (DMN), rather than the frontoparietal network (FPN), significantly contributed to the prediction of trust propensity in older adults. Our findings suggest that older adults rely less on economic rationality (executive functions, associated with FPN) in trust games. Rather, they are likely to depend more on social rationality (social cognition, associated with social preference and DMN) to resolve the risk of treachery (affect, associated with CON) in trust dilemmas. This study contributes to a better understanding of the neural underpinnings of older adults' trust propensity.

Can trusting individuals achieve career success?

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the impact of trust propensity on both objective (salary) and subjective (career satisfaction) indicators of career success and investigate the mediating role of organizational identification in these relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe sample for this study consisted of 187 Pakistani employees who were selected from three units of a large footwear company. The research hypotheses were tested through structural equation modelling.FindingsResults showed that as theorized, organizational identification fully mediated the effects of trust propensity on salary and career satisfaction.Originality/valueTo the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study which has explored the effects of trust propensity on objective and subjective measures of career success. Furthermore, this paper highlights one possible pathway in the form of organizational identification through which trust propensity relates to different career outcomes.

Trust me if you can – Do trust propensities in granting working-from-home arrangements change during times of exogenous shocks?

The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the effectiveness of working-from-home (WFH) arrangements but also raised questions about their slow implementation before the lockdowns and whether adoption has since accelerated. To examine the dynamics of trust in granting WFH before, during, and after the pandemic, we conducted a multi-case study and 63 in-depth interviews with French managers and their subordinates. Our research shows that the democratization of WFH cannot be attributed to a single factor. We propose that an increase in trust towards WFH depends on the intertwining of multiple factors: (1) pre-pandemic level of trust in WFH, (2) sophistication of organizations’ IT infrastructure, and (3) organizations’ type of resilience. We contribute to WFH research by proposing a conceptual model that provides a holistic understanding of how trust interacts with WFH on different levels and how the interplay of trust propensity, resilience strategies, and the use of digital tools fosters broader WFH implementation.

Understanding trust calibration in automated driving: the combined effect of time, personality, and system warning design

Under the human-automation codriving future, dynamic trust should be considered. This paper explored how trust changes over time and how multiple factors (time, trust propensity, neuroticism, and takeover warning design) calibrate trust together. We launched two driving simulator experiments to measure drivers' trust before, during, and after the experiment under the takeover scenario. The results showed that trust in automation increased during short-term interactions and dropped after four months, which is still higher than pre-experiment trust. Initial trust and trust propensity had a stable impact on trust. Drivers trusted the system more with the two-stage (MR + TOR) warning design than the one-stage (TOR). Neuroticism had a significant effect on the countdown compared with the content warning.

The Effect of Trust In The Soco Community on Repurchase Intention in Social E-Commerce

The virtual community strategy is a marketing strategy that is interactive, inexpensive, influential, and can increase sales for e-commerce. Sociolla is the largest beauty e-commerce that has a SOCO virtual community platform. With advanced technology, SOCO's community platform has many features to encourage product and beauty-related reviews, discussions, and topics. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between familiarity, perceived similarity, social network, structural assurance, trust propensity, impression management, Trust in members, trust in the website, intention to get information, and repurchase intention among members of the Sociolla virtual community, who is domiciled in Jakarta. Using PLS-SEM analysis, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi have purchased on the Sociolla site in the last six months. Rust is essential because beauty products depend on each user's skin condition. This research concludes that structural assurance, trust propensity, and impression management significantly affect Trust in members. Trust propensity and impression management significantly ultimately affect the Trust in the website. Confidence in members and Trust in the website significantly positively affect the intention to get information. Trust in members and Trust in the website significantly positively affect the repurchase intention.