Merchandising/Marketing/Retailing: Management

Trust in Humanoid Robots in Footwear Stores: A Crisp-Set Qca Model

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Abstract

This study examines whether one’s intent to visit the store can be determined by the interplay among the three dimensions of users’ trust in robots, the robots’ social intelligence and performance. Using a Crist-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis, we explore the causality of intention to visit or non-visit a robot-operated footwear store. The analysis yielded three key findings. First, users’ trust in robots was a necessary condition of visit intent to a robot-operated store with 100% absolute consistency but is insufficient to produce the outcome as a single causal configuration. Second, when high levels of trust and performance or social intelligence and trust are combined as a causal condition, positive visit intent will occur. Trust in humanoid robots is a fundamental baseline and a prerequisite of bringing consumers to the footwear stores; simultaneously, consumers require a satisfying level of robots’ social skills “and/or” functional performance to make their in-store trip.

Keywords: AI, Footwear, Trust, QCA, Robot, Humanoid, Social intelligence

How to Cite:

Song, C., Jo, B. W. & Kim, Y., (2022) “Trust in Humanoid Robots in Footwear Stores: A Crisp-Set Qca Model”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 78(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.13483