Enhanced Net Valence Model (NVM) for the Adoption of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) by Novice Drivers

Autonomous Vehicles (AVs, Level 4) can drive themselves from point A to point B without the need for any interaction from the driver because they are able to sense the surrounding environment. The few studies on adopting AVs tend to be narrowly focused on experienced drivers who have held a full license for a long time; there is no research yet on the adoption of AVs by novice drivers. Moreover, none of the previous studies has used the Net Valence Model (NVM) in investigating AV adoption. Realizing this gap, the aim of this study is to investigate factors influencing the adoption by novice drivers of Level 4 AVs. A conceptual model is proposed by extending NVM with three constructs as independent variables: personal innovativeness, alternatives, and social influence. Based on the proposed conceptual model, 16 hypotheses have been formulated which will be tested in the next phase of this research.