A longitudinal study on the cross-temporal relationships in the acceptance of autonomous delivery vehicles on campus: a cross-lagged panel analysis based on two-wave tracking data
The adoption of any technology requires both capability and user acceptance. Most technology acceptance studies are cross-sectional, limiting ability to identify longitudinal predictive relationships between psychological factors and behavioral intention. We used the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2), a two-wave longitudinal design with a one-month interval and a cross-lagged panel model to examine the longitudinal predictive effects of performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, social influence, personal innovativeness, and price sensitivity on later usage intention during early deployment of autonomous delivery vehicles on a campus. After controlling for baseline usage intention, we found that hedonic motivation, personal innovativeness, and performance expectancy all significantly positively predicted later usage intention. Social influence and price sensitivity had no significant predictive effects. In early technology diffusion, user acceptance is therefore probably driven by experience of novelty, individual innovativeness, and perceived functional value. This has practical implications for those introducing autonomous delivery services.