From TAM to AVRTS: development and validation of the attitudes toward Virtual Reality Technology Scale

Abstract

To address a deficiency of scales measuring attitudes toward virtual reality technology, the Attitudes toward Virtual Reality Technology Scale (AVRTS) was developed following a three-step procedure. Items were generated based on literature and in a focus group pilot study (n = 20). Using factor analysis with maximum likelihood extraction and direct oblimin rotation, the initial scale was created after administration of these items (n = 314) and further refined after a second survey (n = 473). In the final solution, a total of 22 items clustered into a three-factor solution with the factors being “ease of use” (alpha = .858), “usefulness” (alpha = .857), and “enjoyment” (alpha = .919) and overall reliability of .910. Construct validity was established by correlating the AVRTS with the Technology Readiness Index and an access barrier scale, and internal validity was established by correlating the scale with its sub-scales.

Appendices

Appendix 1

List of 12 items deleted to reduce the original 37 items to the 25-item scale presented in Table 1 under “Study 1.”

• I would enjoy using VR at home (Item 4).

• I find VR useful (Item 8).

• Using VR makes me feel sick (reverse coded; item 12).

• I believe VR is a user-friendly tool (Item 13).

• Interacting with VR requires a lot of my mental effort (reverse coded; item 14).

• I believe using VR can help me (Item 15).

• I find it easy to recover from errors while using VR (Item 16).

• Using VR allows me to do things that would otherwise be impossible (Item 20).

• Interacting with VR is frustrating (reverse coded; item 28).

• VR is intuitive to use (Item 30).

• VR is instinctual to use (Item 34).

• I believe that VR is helpful (Item 35).

Appendix 2

Items used for the access barrier scale, modified from three subscales presented by Porter and Donhu (2006, p. 1003).

Items adapted from the Perceived access barriers sub-scale:

• I do not want to spend the money to buy a VR system for personal use.

• I cannot afford to buy a VR system for personal use.

Items adapted from the Attitude toward Internet usage sub-scale:

• I am positive toward VR.*

• It makes sense to use VR.*

• People should adopt VR.*

Items adapted from the Internet usage sub-scale:

• I use VR quite often for personal use.*

• I spend a lot of time on VR per personal use.*

• I have been using VR for personal use for a long time now.*

Additional items added:

• I do not have regular access to free VR technology.

• I do not know much about VR.

• I want to adopt VR.*

• I have no reason to use VR.

All items on a 1–5 Likert-type scale range from strongly disagree to strongly agree. * denotes reverse-coded items.