Research on the Factors and Pathways Affecting Users’ Willingness to Use AR Animations for Science Popularization: An Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model

The rise of augmented reality (AR) technology offers a new viewpoint and innovative approach to the sharing and understanding of science education. AR animations for science popularization transform educational content into animated formats and utilize interactive presentation techniques made possib...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xu Zhang, Kai Zhang, Lei Liang, Ji Zhang, Junming Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Access
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10947680/
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850189094225707008
author Xu Zhang
Kai Zhang
Lei Liang
Ji Zhang
Junming Chen
author_facet Xu Zhang
Kai Zhang
Lei Liang
Ji Zhang
Junming Chen
author_sort Xu Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The rise of augmented reality (AR) technology offers a new viewpoint and innovative approach to the sharing and understanding of science education. AR animations for science popularization transform educational content into animated formats and utilize interactive presentation techniques made possible by AR. This approach improves users’ comprehension, enjoyment, and motivation, encouraging them to pursue further learning, exploration, and engagement in experiences. Nonetheless, research on the factors that shape users’ experiences with AR animations for science popularization is limited, and examining the elements that influence users’ willingness to engage and enhance their behavioral intentions is an area that necessitates further exploration. This study proposes an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) that integrates user perception, psychological experiences, and technology acceptance-related factors to predict the engagement of AR animations for science popularization. The study investigates the pathways connecting these factors and puts forward 15 associated hypotheses. Data analysis from 347 respondents indicates that entertainment, interactivity, visual appeal, self-efficacy, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and attitude are significant factors affecting users’ willingness to engage. The research results not only validate the impact of these factors on users’ willingness to use but also provide practical and feasible improvement strategies with practical insights for the design of AR animations for science popularization, the teaching practices of educators, and the innovative directions for technology developers. Especially in the field of science education, the findings of this study have strong practical value and provide theoretical support and practical evidence for the future promotion of AR technology in education.
format Article
id doaj-art-d0e5683040ff4df28bc0409ae1235561
institution OA Journals
issn 2169-3536
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher IEEE
record_format Article
series IEEE Access
spelling doaj-art-d0e5683040ff4df28bc0409ae12355612025-08-20T02:15:41ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362025-01-0113600886010710.1109/ACCESS.2025.355700610947680Research on the Factors and Pathways Affecting Users’ Willingness to Use AR Animations for Science Popularization: An Extension of the Technology Acceptance ModelXu Zhang0https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4609-8125Kai Zhang1https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7342-1779Lei Liang2https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1218-1082Ji Zhang3https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3584-7618Junming Chen4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6406-0924Faculty of Innovation and Design, City University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, ChinaCollege of Animation, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing, ChinaCollege of Arts, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, ChinaFaculty of Innovation and Design, City University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, ChinaFaculty of Humanities and Arts, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, ChinaThe rise of augmented reality (AR) technology offers a new viewpoint and innovative approach to the sharing and understanding of science education. AR animations for science popularization transform educational content into animated formats and utilize interactive presentation techniques made possible by AR. This approach improves users’ comprehension, enjoyment, and motivation, encouraging them to pursue further learning, exploration, and engagement in experiences. Nonetheless, research on the factors that shape users’ experiences with AR animations for science popularization is limited, and examining the elements that influence users’ willingness to engage and enhance their behavioral intentions is an area that necessitates further exploration. This study proposes an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) that integrates user perception, psychological experiences, and technology acceptance-related factors to predict the engagement of AR animations for science popularization. The study investigates the pathways connecting these factors and puts forward 15 associated hypotheses. Data analysis from 347 respondents indicates that entertainment, interactivity, visual appeal, self-efficacy, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and attitude are significant factors affecting users’ willingness to engage. The research results not only validate the impact of these factors on users’ willingness to use but also provide practical and feasible improvement strategies with practical insights for the design of AR animations for science popularization, the teaching practices of educators, and the innovative directions for technology developers. Especially in the field of science education, the findings of this study have strong practical value and provide theoretical support and practical evidence for the future promotion of AR technology in education.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10947680/Augmented realityscience educationself-efficacytechnology acceptanceuser perception
spellingShingle Xu Zhang
Kai Zhang
Lei Liang
Ji Zhang
Junming Chen
Research on the Factors and Pathways Affecting Users’ Willingness to Use AR Animations for Science Popularization: An Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model
IEEE Access
Augmented reality
science education
self-efficacy
technology acceptance
user perception
title Research on the Factors and Pathways Affecting Users’ Willingness to Use AR Animations for Science Popularization: An Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model
title_full Research on the Factors and Pathways Affecting Users’ Willingness to Use AR Animations for Science Popularization: An Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model
title_fullStr Research on the Factors and Pathways Affecting Users’ Willingness to Use AR Animations for Science Popularization: An Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model
title_full_unstemmed Research on the Factors and Pathways Affecting Users’ Willingness to Use AR Animations for Science Popularization: An Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model
title_short Research on the Factors and Pathways Affecting Users’ Willingness to Use AR Animations for Science Popularization: An Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model
title_sort research on the factors and pathways affecting users x2019 willingness to use ar animations for science popularization an extension of the technology acceptance model
topic Augmented reality
science education
self-efficacy
technology acceptance
user perception
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10947680/
work_keys_str_mv AT xuzhang researchonthefactorsandpathwaysaffectingusersx2019willingnesstousearanimationsforsciencepopularizationanextensionofthetechnologyacceptancemodel
AT kaizhang researchonthefactorsandpathwaysaffectingusersx2019willingnesstousearanimationsforsciencepopularizationanextensionofthetechnologyacceptancemodel
AT leiliang researchonthefactorsandpathwaysaffectingusersx2019willingnesstousearanimationsforsciencepopularizationanextensionofthetechnologyacceptancemodel
AT jizhang researchonthefactorsandpathwaysaffectingusersx2019willingnesstousearanimationsforsciencepopularizationanextensionofthetechnologyacceptancemodel
AT junmingchen researchonthefactorsandpathwaysaffectingusersx2019willingnesstousearanimationsforsciencepopularizationanextensionofthetechnologyacceptancemodel