Factors Influencing Trust Assessment in Technology

This study presents exploratory research on how to measure perceived Trust in technology across culture. Builds from a validated Human-Computer Trust Model (HCTM) questionnaire (12 items) to efficiently measure users' predispositions to trust a technological artefact (e.g. WhatsApp). This approach aims to provide results that are not tied to a specific context while also focusing on underexplored populations. Two central research questions guided this research: RQ1: Can the Human-Computer Trust Scale (HCTS) be used to map trust behaviors across different cultures? And RQ2: Can the Human-Computer Trust scale be used to support trustworthy design practices? This research aimed first to gain new insights on how to measure users Trust in technology across-culture and second, reflect how useful the trust scale is to map user's Trust in a system. The study contemplates designers (n = 5) and users (n = 91). Results indicate that the Human-Computer Trust scale (HCTS) can be a useful, easy-to-use tool to map users trust predispositions but needs to be complemented with additional guidance on how to analyze and interpret the results. Same regards on mapping trust behaviors across culture if analyzed with complementary indicators like gender differences, privacy perception.

Automated summary

This study explores how to measure perceived Trust in technology across culture using the HCTM questionnaire and aims to provide insights on trust behaviors and trustworthy design practices. Results indicate that the HCTS can be a useful tool to map users trust predispositions but needs additional guidance on analysis and interpretation.