Trust Theory Research Articles

Studying the level of trust in regional authorities

The absence or low level of trust in regional authorities hinder the development of the country’s economy. Building trust is a long-term objective and largely depends on the region’s educational environment, especially the university one, which should nurture human resources. The study aims to establish the level of trust in the institutions of higher education, healthcare and regional authorities in the educational environment of Chelyabinsk oblast (Russia). The theory of spatial development, cultural and institutional theories of trust constitute the theoretical framework of the study. The methods of ranging and grouping, as well as correlation analysis were applied. Empirical evidence is obtained through the survey of 382 respondents working in the field of higher education in Chelyabinsk oblast. In the paper, we determine the level of their trust in the institutions of education, healthcare, regional and municipal authorities. Among students, lecturers and other university employees, the highest and the lowest levels of trust were recorded in educational institutions and regional and municipal authorities, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed the relationship between trust and possible factors in its formation within each institution under study. It was found that this relationship was not universal either in the context of respondents’ categories or trust forms. The paper provides recommendations for regional and municipal authorities focused on increasing the confidence in their activities and, as a result, enhancing their effectiveness.

Green cooperation in last-mile logistics and consumer loyalty: An empirical analysis of a theoretical framework

Based on the contingency, transaction, and trust theories, this paper explored how the green cooperation between supplier and customer in last-mile logistics contributes to consumers’ sustainable consumption behaviors and trust and transaction cost's contingency role. We collected survey data from 453 users of green shopping platforms in South Korea (e.g., Homepick and Smart Locker) and analyzed the data using structural equation modeling. The results suggest that green cooperation with companies positively affects consumers’ sustainable consumption behaviors and trust, and transaction costs negatively moderate such relationships. In addition, customer trust positively affects sustainable consumption behavior and loyalty. We also found that improved sustainable consumption behavior can form loyalty, but transaction cost decreases its positive impact. This paper evaluates the last-mile delivery through green cooperation and enriches the literature on contingency, transaction cost, and trust theories.

SOCIO-COMMUNICATIVE ASPECTS OF TRUST CONCEPTS AMONG BACHELOR STUDENTS OF MOSCOW UNIVERSITIES

Interest in the analysis of trust in social communications is due to the fact that modern society is subject to a number of global challenges in economics and politics. Young people, as the most susceptible and labile group of the population, may experience the negative impact of these challenges, coupled with a crisis of values and social guidelines. The purpose of the research is to analyze the perceptions of trust among bachelor students from Moscow universities in the context of social communications. Empirical data are presented by the results of a survey of full-time students living in Moscow and the Moscow Region (n = 441, 2021). The theoretical and methodological basis of the study is formed by the theories of trust of Russian and foreign researchers (F. Fukuyama, Yu. Lo, P.M. Doni, V.Yu. Stolyar, P.M. Kozyreva, S.V. Ryzhova, et al.). The scientific novelty of the study is the identified patterns of the phenomenon of trust in the youth environment. The results of the study show the ambiguity of the interpretation of trust by students. In building trusting relationships, honesty, openness and sincerity are most significant for students. Most consider it impossible to have relationships without trust with relatives and friends. In intercultural communications, it is easier for students to trust post-Soviet citizens. For barriers of trust, the most significant was the socio-cultural barrier (difference in mentality, norms, values, the presence of stereotypes, etc.), as well as the language barrier. The conclusions and recommendations presented in the article can be used in further research on student trust, as well as for making managerial decisions to strengthen the value of trust in education.

Research on Consumer Trust Mechanism in China’s B2C E-Commerce Platform for Second-Hand Cars

The rapid development of China’s e-commerce industry has led to the rise of China’s second-hand car e-commerce. With the increasingly rich trust theory and the rapid development of e-commerce platforms, the issue of online consumer trust has attracted more and more scholars’ attention. This paper takes China’s B2C second-hand car e-commerce platforms as an example, combines the second-hand car research conclusions and consumer trust theory, and conducts a systematic study on the formation of consumer trust in second-hand car e-commerce platforms. Based on the trust of individual consumers, system environment, website/APP and platform companies, this paper explores the influencing factors of consumer trust and constructs the influencing factors model of trust formation. The empirical study was conducted by using the structural equation model and multiple regression to verify the degree of fitting of the theoretical hypothesis and the model. The research results have a certain reference value for the development of second-hand car e-commerce platforms.

КОНСОЛИДАЦИЯ РОССИЙСКОГО РЕГИОНАЛЬНОГО СООБЩЕСТВА: АНАЛИЗ РИСКОВ И УГРОЗ

Objective of the study: to consider the consolidation processes implemented with the participation of the regional community for potential risks and threats to the sustainable development of the region and the state. The methodological basis of the research is based on the conceptual positions of the risk society (W. Beck, O. N. Yanitsky); the institutional approach in accordance with the neo-institutional concept of D. North; the cultural direction of the theory of trust as a tool for measuring social capital (P. Shtompka, F. Fukuyama). Research results. The risks and threats potentially contained in the consolidation processes of the Russian regional community are disclosed. They are associated with the possibility of a destructive orientation of consolidation; with the influence of external social agents; with an incorrect assessment of the level of consolidation and, as a result, the implementation of an inappropriate strategy for the development of the region. Prospects of the study are related to the sociological analysis of possible measures to prevent and counteract risks and threats to the consolidation of the Russian regional community. These measures can be developed and applied both at the state level and at the regional level.

Trusting groups

ABSTRACT Katherine Hawley was skeptical about group trust. Her main reason for this skepticism was that the distinction between trust and reliance, central to many theories of interpersonal trust, does not apply to trust in groups. Hawley’s skeptical arguments successfully shift the burden of proof to those who wish to continue with a concept of group trust. Nonetheless, I argue that a commitments account of the trust/reliance distinction can shoulder that burden. According to that commitments account, trust is a distinctive kind of reliance grounded in a positive appraisal of features of the trustee’s practical rationality, foremost their commitments and their capacity to act on those commitments. This is one way we can make sense of the difference between trusting and relying on individual people. I argue it is also a way we can make sense of the difference between trusting and relying on groups.

Artificial Intelligence and Its Ethical Implications for Marketing

Despite the recent developments in AI, ethical questions arise when consumers contemplate how their data is being treated. This paper develops a conceptual model building on the theory of acceptance, risk, trust, and attitudes towards AI to understand the drivers that lead consumers to accept AI, considering consumers' ethical concerns. The model was empirically tested with 200 consumers of AI marketing services. The findings reveal that perceived risk significantly impacts attitudes toward AI, ethical concerns, and perceived trust and suggest a significant association between perceived risk, ethical concerns, and social norms. This research provides important theoretical and managerial implications for the ethical aspects of AI in marketing by highlighting the ethical and moral questions surrounding AI's acceptance. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-02-01 Full Text: PDF

Examining pedestrians’ trust in automated vehicles based on attributes of trust: A qualitative study

Pedestrians’ trust in automated vehicles (AVs) needs to be analyzed and deconstructed to update it from its current broad concept into several lower-level attributes for assessment and measurement. In this study, we have employed virtual reality (VR) and scenario-based interviews to examine the trust of pedestrians toward AVs, based on the attributes of trust and trustworthiness. A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive thematic analysis of the responses of 36 participants was undertaken. Eight such attributes emerged from the analysis, including statistical reliability and dependability, competence, predictability, familiarity, authority/subversion, liberty/oppression, care/harm, and sanctity/degradation. The first four are objective attributes concerning automation trustworthiness and human trust in automation, while the remaining four are subjective attributes, analogous to properties of human morality. The findings of this study provide an empirical grounding for trust theories. Specifically, we have highlighted the importance of subjective qualities in constituting pedestrian-AV trust, including “automation morality” and “care/harm”.

Can autonomy level and anthropomorphic characteristics affect public acceptance and trust towards shared autonomous vehicles?

Shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) are revolutionizing the future of urban mobility. This study aims to investigate the effects of artificial intelligence (i.e., autonomy level and anthropomorphic characteristics), human-related, environmental, and societal factors on public trust and acceptance. Structural equation modelling is used to analyze a valid survey sample of 451 participants. Results show that autonomy level can both directly and indirectly (via trust) increase public acceptance; Whereas, anthropomorphic characteristics cannot directly affect public acceptance, but can indirectly increase their acceptance via trust. The other human-related, environmental, and societal factors also positively contribute to public acceptance. Additionally, moderators, including age, gender, income, housing size, COVID-19 history, shared mobility experience, vehicle ownership, and driving experience are also examined. In theory, this study contextualizes the trust-in-automation three-factor model, UTAUT model, and trust theory and includes two domain-specific constructs (i.e., SAV anthropomorphism and SAV autonomy) to study public trust and acceptance towards SAVs. In practice, this study suggests the incorporation of some anthropomorphic features and relatively high autonomy level in SAVs to build public trust and acceptance.

Security feedback trust model of power network demand response terminal triggered by hacker attacks

With the rapid expansion of power system scale, demand response business is promoted to develop. More and more demand response terminals are connected to the smart grid, smart grid is an intelligent system that allows the grid to effectively perform its functions. Its data can be used in intelligent decision-making during grid operation, which may be attacked by hackers in practical applications, causing security problems of demand response terminals of the power network. The security feedback trust model establishes trust relationship through trust mechanism, which can effectively ensure the security of interaction between nodes and demand response terminals of the smart grid. Therefore, a security feedback trust model of power network demand response terminal triggered by hacker attacks is proposed. Analyze the role of smart grid in power grid, and use convolutional neural network in artificial intelligence technology to enhance the flexibility of smart grid. Aiming at the security problem of the demand response terminal of the power network being attacked by hackers, based on the trust theory, the security feedback trust model of the demand response terminal of the power network is designed through the main services provided by the security feedback trust model, the trust information storage of the power network nodes and the summary of the main work. Establish the identity trust relationship, adopt the distributed verifiable signature scheme, update the power grid node certificate, update the identity trust relationship, and revoke the identity trust relationship based on the trust evaluation and threshold value to prevent hackers from attacking the power grid demand response terminal. Based on information theory, trust is established and measured. Entropy is used to represent the trust value. Behavior trust evaluation and composition mechanism are introduced into the security feedback trust model of power network demand response terminals to achieve the credibility of identity and behavior among power network nodes. The experimental results show that the proposed method can judge the hacker attacks, reduce the impact of hacker attacks on the trust of power grid nodes, and improve the interaction security between power grid demand response terminals and power grid nodes.

Method for identifying trolls in online communities

In the article the problem of recognizing users of social networks, chats and other virtual spaces that are provoked by other users, inciting conflicts between participants of various online communities is investigated. In this work the authors give a brief description of the trolling concept. The relevance of solving the problem of trolling in the social communities of the Internet is shown in connection with the widespread aggressive provocative behavior of individual users in the virtual space, as well as the influence of such behavior on the psyche and general condition of a person. The paper uses the theory of trust functions to process expert observations, estimates or measurements. The proposed approach involves the use of this theory in conjunction with the input of a value that determines the conflict between two combined trust functions. The goal of the work is to test a new approach for calculating potential trolls using a method based on the degree of conflict of trust functions between different messages of the discussion branch in question-answer communities. It is concluded that the possibility of assessing the user’s conflict with the help of a parameter called the measure of the conflict of his messages in relation to the messages of all other users. To simplify the calculation process, the k-means clustering algorithm is applied.

Perceived trust: Do all of its dimensions matter for insurance inclusion?

The study aimed to examine the significance of perceived trust dimensions in explaining insurance inclusion in Uganda. Insurance inclusion remained very low in Uganda. Although trust is vital for insurance inclusion, it is not known whether all of its dimensions are relevant for insurance inclusion. As such, hierarchical regression analysis was adopted to investigate the predictive power of the individual dimensions of perceived trust on insurance inclusion. The significance of the individual components was attained by determining the change in the adjusted R2 and the significance of the change. Hence, the results showed that integrity (β = 0.316, p < 0.01), credibility (β = 0.252, p < 0.01) and reliability (β = 0.211, p < 0.01) were significant positive predictors of insurance inclusion. However, the results showed benevolence (β = 0.018, p > 0.05) to have an insignificant positive influence on insurance inclusion in Uganda. The effect of benevolence on insurance inclusion was practically and statistically insignificant. Overall results showed that independent variables explained 50.6% of the variance in insurance inclusion in Uganda when combined. Unlike prior studies that have investigated the general effect of trust as the global variable, the current study examined the impact of the independent dimensions of trust in explaining insurance inclusion. Besides, earlier studies ignored the trust theory, which provides key dimensions for understanding trust. The current study reveals that not all dimensions of perceived trust are significant for insurance inclusion in Uganda.

Enhancing Service Innovation Performance through Customer Involvement: The Mediating Role of Knowledge Sharing and Organisational Learning in Financial Service Companies in Guangdong

This paper focuses on the knowledge-intensive financial service enterprises in Guangdong province as the research object, with the key objective of studying how customer participation can enhance innovation performance in knowledge-intensive service industry, and by integrating social learning theory, knowledge-based view theory, and trust theory. The research reveals the essential characteristics of innovation in knowledge-intensive service industry, designs relevant scales for customer participation in knowledge-intensive service innovation, and explores the impact mechanism and operation mechanism of customer participation on innovation performance in knowledge-intensive financial service industry. This paper proposes a theoretical framework for the impact of customer participation on innovation performance and achieves innovative research results in several aspects.

Systematising partner selection processes for R&D business relationships

Innovations, opportunity identification, pursuit, exploitation as well as firm development can be addressed by organisations that develop formal relationship with others for the purposes of accessing essential resources, competencies, knowledge and legitimacy. To build a case in this area, we examine partner selection processes for research and development business relationship's success using multiple-case methodology. Drawing on the resource-based view-plus model (made up of the resources-based view of the firm, knowledge base view and trust theory), this study analyses how research and development can be enhanced by the selection of appropriate partners in strategic alliance. The findings provide best practices for managing partnership selection process in research and development knowledge area accentuated by trust, substantial capital, and financial stability as well as resource required for expansion. We introduce the box and scale model and how they can be administered during the partner selection process.

Vistrust: a Multidimensional Framework and Empirical Study of Trust in Data Visualizations.

Trust is an essential aspect of data visualization, as it plays a crucial role in the interpretation and decision-making processes of users. While research in social sciences outlines the multi-dimensional factors that can play a role in trust formation, most data visualization trust researchers employ a single-item scale to measure trust. We address this gap by proposing a comprehensive, multidimensional conceptualization and operationalization of trust in visualization. We do this by applying general theories of trust from social sciences, as well as synthesizing and extending earlier work and factors identified by studies in the visualization field. We apply a two-dimensional approach to trust in visualization, to distinguish between cognitive and affective elements, as well as between visualization and data-specific trust antecedents. We use our framework to design and run a large crowd-sourced study to quantify the role of visual complexity in establishing trust in science visualizations. Our study provides empirical evidence for several aspects of our proposed theoretical framework, most notably the impact of cognition, affective responses, and individual differences when establishing trust in visualizations.

Optimism and pessimism toward science: A new way to look at the public's evaluations of science and technology discoveries and recommendations.

While there have always been those in the American public who mistrust science and scientists' views of the world, they have tended to be a minority of the larger public. Recent COVID-19 related events indicate that could be changing for some key groups. What might explain the present state of mistrust of science within an important component of the American public? In this study, we delve deeply into this question and examine what citizens today believe about science and technology and why, focusing on core theories of trust, risk concern, and political values and on the important role of science optimism and pessimism orientations. Using national public survey data, we examine the correlates of science optimism and pessimism and test the efficacy of this construct as drivers of biotechnology policy. We find that science optimism and pessimism are empirically useful constructs and that they are important predictors of biotechnology policy choices.

Building Trust in E-Commerce: A Practical Trust Guide for Evaluation

Market power in electronic marketplaces is increasingly developing into a monopoly. Digital pioneers like Amazon and eBay do not want to give up their market share easily. Especially, Small and Medium Enterprises, which try to offer their services online, have great difficulties to gain market share. To understand the causes, we start a systematic literature review. The results shows that building trust is a necessary precondition for success in e-commerce. For many small and medium-sized companies, entering e-commerce market is a completely new business field. Therefore, they lack the knowledge and experience to successfully build online trust. To solve this problem, we use Design Science Research approach and develop a Trust Guide for online trust building. The Trust Guide is a set of design principles derived from trust theories. Our aim is to give Small and Medium Enterprises practical guidance and help them to successfully build online trust in e-commerce.

PENGARUH KEPERCAYAAN DAN PENGETAHUAN TENTANG ZAKAT TERHADAP MINAT MASYARAKAT MEMBAYAR ZAKAT DI BADAN AMIL ZAKAT NASIONAL KABUPATEN BEKASI

During the last 4 years there has been an increase in receipt of zakat funds at the Bekasi Regency National Amil Zakat Agency. The increase in receipt of zakat funds for 4 years is not in accordance with the potential for zakat in Bekasi Regency. Based on the 2021 zakat data outlook of the National Amil Zakat Agency (BAZNAS), the total potential for zakat in Indonesia in 2021 is IDR 327.6 trillion, in West Java it is IDR. 36.1 trillion and in Bekasi Regency 3.7 trillion (BAZNAS, Puskas, 2022). If seen from these data, it can be said that there is a gap, because of the total potential for zakat in Bekasi Regency, the zakat collected is only Rp. 15.7 billion or only 0.4% of the total receipt of zakat funds from Bekasi Regency in 2021. This study aims to find out how the influence of trust on people's interest in paying zakat at the Bekasi Regency National Amil Zakat Agency, to find out how the influence of knowledge about zakat on people's interest in paying zakat at the Bekasi Regency National Amil Zakat Agency, and to find out how the influence of trust and knowledge about zakat simultaneously on the public's interest in paying zakat at the Bekasi Regency National Amil Zakat Agency. In this study, researchers used the theory of trust according to Izzatunnafsi Kurniawan (2019) to build trust, seven core values are needed, namely openness, honesty, integrity, competence, sharing, respect and accountability. The theory of knowledge about zakat according to Itaq Pangestu (2016) there are several indicators to find out knowledge about zakat, including whether or not zakat is known, knowledge about whether zakat is necessary or not, knowledge about zakat law, knowledge about the amount of zakat and the purpose of zakat being ordered. Theory of interest according to Muklish Muhammad Nur and Zulfahmi (2018) there are three indicators that can be used to measure interest, namely encouragement from within the individual, social motives and emotional factors. This study uses a quantitative approach with primary data. The population in this study was the adult community of Kampung Babakan Banten, Sumberurip Village, Pebayuran District with ages from 18 to 40 years of 335 people. The sample in this study was taken from the population using the Slovin formula, so there were 182 respondents. The results of this study indicate that partially trust has a significant effect on people's interest in paying zakat at the Bekasi Regency National Amil Zakat Agency, because the t-value is 3.078 > the t-table value is 1.973 with sig. 0.002 <0.05. Knowledge of zakat has no significant effect on people's interest in paying zakat at the Bekasi Regency National Amil Zakat Agency, because the t-value is 0.751 < the t-table value is 1.973 with sig. 0.453 > 0.05. Meanwhile, trust and knowledge about zakat simultaneously have a significant effect on people's interest in paying zakat at the Bekasi Regency National Amil Zakat Agency, because the calculated F value is 4.912 > the F table value is 3.05 with sig. 0.008 < 0.05.

Trust Relationship with Suppliers, Collaborative Action, and Manufacturer Resilience in the COVID-19 Crisis.

Frequent emergencies highlight the importance of corporate resilience, and relationship governance behaviors have received much attention for improving firms' resilience. This study uses structural equation modeling to test hypotheses based on trust theory and synergy theory. It investigates the impact of the behavioral operations management approach of collaborative action on manufacturers' resilience in Chinese manufacturing firms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Environmental uncertainty is used as a moderating variable to explore its role between the trust relationship with suppliers and collaborative action, which are two types of relationship management behaviors. The results show that collaborative action positively affects each of the three stages of manufacturer resilience. Moreover, collaborative action mediates between the trust relationship with suppliers and the different dimensions of manufacturer resilience. Environmental uncertainty does not moderate the facilitative effect of the trust relationship with suppliers on collaborative action. This study examines the relational governance behavior of firms in the context of a particular Chinese culture to build a bridge between relational governance behavioral science and firm resilience management. This study tries to provide inspiration for managers to improve the risk management ability of manufacturing enterprises by using relationship management theory and behavioral science.

How to win trust: The case of P2P financial fraud in China

Originally, the establishment of peer-to-peer lending (P2P) helped poor people to solve short-term financial problems or had a charitable nature. Along with its development, it became a financial method that helps people invest. It has been developing rapidly in China since 2007 and was claimed as a Ponzi scheme since many investors have been deceived. That is, P2P in China is viewed more as a fraud rather than a formal financial method. Although some studies have explored the overall picture of P2P, this study filled the research gaps by i) using court cases and media reports for analysis, and ii) adopting trust theory and the concept of guanxi, to explore the trust relationship in the P2P. To investigate the process and mechanism in P2P, the present study aimed to examine the situation of P2P investment in China and the trust-building process between investors and P2P companies by using trust theory. A case study method was adopted using published court and media cases. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. The results demonstrate that investors were guaranteed high financial returns by the companies, and they profited from their initial investments. However, they were commonly deceived in subsequent investments after their trust in the P2P companies was established through the initial gain. The results also reveal a trust-building process between investors and P2P companies through the quality of search, experience and credence as adopted in trust theory. The study complements the trust theory with Chinese cultural concepts such as authority and guanxi and reveals how these are applied in Chinese business malpractices.