Nudged by a robot: Responses to agency and feedback. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tussyadiah, Iis; Miller, Graham
• Is Part Of: Annals of tourism research. Volume 78(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: Virtual assistant -- Robot -- Surveillance psychology -- Behavior change intervention -- Resource conservation -- Sustainable tourism; Tourism -- Periodicals
• DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2019.102752
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-7383

Abstract

Abstract: The availability of always-on digital agents in hotel rooms, providing agency and surveillance cues, presents opportunities for behavioral interventions. This study tested the effectiveness of agency and social feedback on pro-environmental behavior intention of hotel consumers. A survey with scenario-based experimental design was distributed to US and UK travelers ( N = 621). Results suggest that no one type of agent was more effective than the other in influencing pro-environmental behavior intention. Social feedback was found effective when given by a virtual assistant. Perception of another agent being 'present' in the room, even when invisible, is sufficient to induce normative behavior. This enriches literature on surveillance cues and behavior change and contributes to finding new ways of leveraging emerging technologies to foster sustainability. Highlights: Intentional agents provide surveillance and agency cues to hotel guests. Agents can be leveraged to provide intervention for sustainable behavior. Virtual assistants and robots do not lead to different intervention outcomes. Social feedback given by a virtual assistant was effective at inducing intention. AI and robotic technologies can be used to foster sustainable tourist behavior.