Abstract
Embodied virtual agents (called hereafter EVAs) are animated, virtual objects, which move, talk, and look like human beings. We propose a possible route which may help better understand how observed effects of an agent on an interface user occur. We relate the concept of embodied agent to literatures in marketing and psychology, which justify the introduction of the concept of attitude. A route of influence and a model are elaborated, proposing effects of agents presence and congruency, on attitudes, and behavioural and intentional dimension of the website power of retention, or “stickiness”. The model is tested, results are discussed, research contributions and limits are commented.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Mitchell, B.B.: Old tricks, new dogs: Ethology and interactive creatures, PhD dissertation. MIT-MEDIALAB, p. 146 (1996)
Cassell, J., Bickmore, T.: External Manifestations of Trustworthiness in the Interface. Communications of the ACM 43(12), 50–56 (2000)
Burgoon, J., Bonito, J.A., Bengtsson, B., Cederberg, C., Lundeberg, M., Allspach, L.: Interactivity in human-computer interaction, a study of credibility, understanding and influence. Computers in Human Behavior 16, 553–574 (2000)
Cooke, A., Sujan, H., Sujan, M., Weitz, B.: Marketing the unfamiliar: The role of context and item-specific information in electronic-agent recommendations. Journal of Marketing Research 39, 488–497 (2002)
Cassell, J., Bickmore, T., Campbell, L., Vilhjálmsson, H., Yan, H.: Human conversation as a system framework: designing embodied conversational agents. In: Cassell, et al. (eds.) Embodied Conversational Agents, pp. 29–63. MIT Press, Cambridge (2000a)
Cassell, J., Bickmore, T., Campbell, L., Vilhjálmsson, H., Yan, H.: More than just a pretty face: Conversational protocols and the affordances of embodiment, Working paper, MIT, Gesture and Narrative Language Group (2000b)
Cassell, J., Ananny, M., Basu, A., Bickmore, T., Chong, P., Mellis, D., Ryokai, K., Smith, J., Vilhjálmsson, H., Yan, H.: Shared reality: Physical collaboration with a virtual peer, Working paper, MIT, Gesture and Narrative Language Group (2000c)
Cassell, J.: Embodied Conversational Agents: representation and intelligence in user interface. AI Magazine 22(3), 67–83 (2001)
Bickmore, T.: Social Dialogue is Serious Business. In: Proceedings of CHI 2002 Workshop on socially adept technologies, p. 5 (2002)
Timothy, B.: Relational agents, Effective change through human-computer relationships, Phd Dissertation, MID, Medialab, p. 284 (2003)
Diesbach, P.B., Jeandrain, A.C.: Online immersion and emotional reactions online: proposal of an integrative model. Advances in Consumer Research, Seoul, 20 (2004)
Diesbach, P.B.: Embodied virtual agents and brand website stickiness, PhD Thesis, ESSEC-IAE of Aix-en-Provence, p. 686 (2006)
Rolland, S., Wallet-Wodka, D.: Electronic agents on the internet : A way to satisfy the consumer? DMSP, Working paper 320, p. 19 (June 2003)
Donath, J.: Mediated faces, in Cognitive Technology: Instruments of Mind. In: Beynon, Nehaniv, Dautenhahn (eds.) Proceedings, CI 2001, Warwick, p. 18 (2001a)
Donath, J.: Being real: Questions of Tele-Identity, in The Robot in the Garden: Telerobotics & Telepistemology in the age of the Internet, pp. 296–311. MIT Press, Ken Goldberg (2001b)
Judith, B., Thomas, B., Michel, P.: Nonverbal behaviors, persuasion, and credibility. Human Communication Research 17(1), 140–169 (1990)
Paul, E., Wallace, F.V.: The repertoire of nonverbal behavior: Categories, origins, usage and coding. Semiotica 1, 49–98 (1969)
Paul, E., Wallace, F., Maureen, O.: Smiles when lying. In: Ekman & Rosenberg, ch. 9, pp. 201–215 (1997)
Ekman, P., Rosenberg, E.: What the face reveals, Basic and applied studies of spontaneous expression using the Facial Action Coding System, p. 495. Oxford University (1997)
Ekman, P.: What we have learned by measuring facial behavior? In: Ekman & Rosenberg, pp. 469–485 (1997)
Elisabeth, H.: Comprehending symbolic consumption: Three theoretical issues. In: Holbrook, Hirschman (eds.) Symposium on Symbolic Consumption, NYU, pp. 4–6 (1980)
Rebecca, H.: Apparel as communication. In: Holbrook, Hirschman (eds.) Symposium on Symbolic Consumption, pp. 7–15 (1980)
Bartneck, C.: Affective expressions of machines, p. 44 (2000), ISBN 90-444-0027-4
Bartneck, C.: Affective expressions of machines. Human factors in Computing systems, pp. 189–190 (2001)
Nass, C., Lombard, M., Henriksen, L., Steuer, J.: Anthropocentrism and computers. Behaviour and Information Technology 14(4), 229–238 (1995)
Nass, C., Reeves, B.: The Media Equation, SLI. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1996)
Nass, C., Moon, Y.: Machines and mindlessness: Social responses to computers. Journal of Social Issues 56(1), 81–103 (2000)
Koda, T., Maes, P.: Agents with faces: The effect of personification. In: RO-MAN 1996. Proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on Robot and Human Communication (1996)
Economou, D., Mitchell, W., Boyle, T.: Pedagogical virtual actor technology development based on real world applications and user needs, Working paper, p. 11, AAAI (2003)
Bloch, P., Masha, R.: Shopping without purchase: An investigation of consumer browsing behavior. Advances in Consumer Research 10, 389–393 (1983)
Peter, B., Daniel, S., Nancy, R.: Consumer search: an extended framework. Journal of Consumer Research 13, 119–126 (1986)
Andrew, F., Ven, S.: The depersonalization of retailing: its impact on the « lonely » consumer. Journal of Retailing 67 (1991)
Underhill, P., Schuster, S.: Why we buy? The Science of Shopping, p. 280 (1999)
Babin, B., Boles, J., Darden, W.: Salesperson stereotypes, consumer emotions, and their impact on information processing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science 23(2), 94–105 (1995)
Babin, L., Babin, B., Boles, J.: The effects of consumer perceptions of the salesperson, product, and dealer on purchase intentions. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services 6, 91–97 (1999)
Barry, B., William, D., Mitch, G.: Work and/or fun: measuring hedonic and utilitarian shopping value. Journal of Consumer Research (1994)
Boulaire, C., Balloffet, P.: Freins et motivations à l’utilisation d’Internet: une exploration par le biais de métaphores, Recherches et Applications en Marketing, pp. 21–39 (January 1999)
Bourgeon, D., Filser, M.: Les apports du modèle expérientiel à l’analyse du comportement dans le domaine culturel. Recherches et Applications en Marketing 4, 5–26 (1995)
Hirschman, E.: Consumers and their animal companions. Journal of Consumer Research 24, 616–632 (1994)
Holbrook, M., Hirschman, E.: The experiential aspects of consumption: Consumer fantasies, feelings and fun. Journal of Consumer Research 9, 132–140 (1982)
Holbrook, M.: Emotion in the consumption experience: Toward a new model of the human consumer. In: The Role of Affect in Consumer Behavior, Peterson, Hoyer, Wilson, pp. 17–52 (1986)
Holbrook, M.: The nature of customer value: An axiology of services in the consumption experience. In: Service Quality: New directions in theory and practice, pp. 21–71. Sage, Thousand Oaks (1994)
Morris, H.: Introduction to consumer values. In: Holbrook (ed.) Consumer value: A framework for analysis and research, pp. 1–18. Routledge, London (1999)
Helmé-Guizon, A.: Le comportement du consommateur sur un site marchand est-il fondamentalement diffèrent de son comportement en magasin? RAM 16(3), 25–37 (2001)
Mathwick, C., Malhotra, N., Rigdon, E.: Experiential value: Conceptualisation, measurement and application in the catalog and Internet environment. Journal of Retailing 77, 39–56 (2001)
Klein, J., Moon, Y., Picard, R.: This computer responds to user frustration: Theory, design and results. Interacting with Computers 14, 119–140 (2002)
Moon, Y., Nass, C.: How “real” are computer personalities? Psychological responses to personality types in human-computer interaction. Communication Research 23, 651–674 (1996)
Rosalind, P.: Affective computing, p. 292. MIT Press, Cambridge (1998)
Picard, R., Klein, J.: Computers that recognize and respond to user emotion: Theoritical and practical implications, Medialab Tech. Report n.538, Interacting with Computers (2001)
Csikszentmihalyi, M., Lefèvre, J.: Optimal experience in work and leisure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 56, 815–822 (1989)
Csikszentmihalyi, M.: Flow, the psychology of optimal experience, Ed. Harper & Row (1990)
Csikszentmihalyi, M.: The costs and benefits of consuming. Journal of Consumer Research 27, 267–272 (2000)
Baker, J., Cameron, M.: The effects of the service environment on affect and consumer perception of waiting time: An integrative review and research propositions. Journal of the Academy of the Marketing Science 24(4), 338–349 (1996)
Julie, B., Michael, L., Dhruv, G.: An experimental approach to making retail store environmental decisions. Journal of Retailing 68(4), 445–461 (1992)
Julie, B., Parasuraman, P., Dhruv, G.A.: The influence of store environment on quality inferences and store image. Journal of Academy of Marketing Science 22(4), 328–339 (1994)
Diesbach, P.B, Galan, J.P, Chandon, J.L.: Impact de la présence d’un agent virtuel incarné sur le pouvoir de rétention du site web : une analyse comportementale par les fichiers log, In: Filser, M. (ed) 11th Research conference of Burgundy in Marketing, p. 17 (October 2006)
Diesbach, P.B., Galan, J.P.: L’agent virtuel incarné dans la distribution en ligne: cadre théorique et revue de littérature. In: 6th Conference on E-marketing, U. Nantes, p. 24 (September 2006)
Zeithaml, V., Bitner, M.: Services Marketing, Integrating customer focus across the firm, p. 668. McGraw Hill, New York (2003)
Bagozzi, R., Gopinath, M., Nyer, P.: The role of emotions in marketing. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science 27, 184–206 (1999)
Batra, R.: The Role of Affect in Consumer Behavior. In: Peterson, Hoyer, Wilson, (eds.) pp. 17–52 (1986)
George, B., Michael, B.: Advertising and promotion: An integrated marketing communications perspective. McGraw Hill, New York (1998)
Derbaix, C.: The impact of affective reactions on attitudes toward the advertisement and the brand. Journal of Marketing Research 32(4), 470–479 (1995)
Derbaix, C., Pham, M.: Pour un développement des mesures de l’affectif en marketing : synthèse des pré-requis. Recherches et Applications en Marketing 4, 71–87 (1989)
MacKenzie, S., Lutz, R., Belch, G.: The role of attitude toward the ad as a mediator of advertising effectiveness. Journal of Marketing Research 23, 130–143 (1986)
Fishbein, M., Ajzen, I.: Belief, attitude, intention and behavior. Addison-Wesley, Reading (1975)
Ray, M., Sawyer, A., Rothschild, M., Heeler, R., Strong, E., Reed, J.: Marketing communication and the hierarchy of effects. In: New models for mass communication research, vol. 2, Sage, Thousand Oaks (1973)
Stevenson, J., Bruner II, G., Kumar, A.: Webpage background and viewers attitude. Journal of Advertising Research, 29–34 (2000)
Bruner, G.C., Kumar, A.: Web commercials and advertising hierarchy-of-effects. Journal of Advertising Research 40(1/2), 35–42 (2000)
Chen, Q., Wells, W.: Attitude toward the site. Journal of Advertising Research, 27–37 (1999)
Karine, G.: Influence de la musique sur les réponses des consommateurs à la publicitél, PhD Thesis, University Rennes 1, p. 665 (1998)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Diesbach, P.L., Midgley, D.F. (2007). Embodied Agents on a Website: Modelling an Attitudinal Route of Influence. In: de Kort, Y., IJsselsteijn, W., Midden, C., Eggen, B., Fogg, B.J. (eds) Persuasive Technology. PERSUASIVE 2007. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 4744. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77006-0_28
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-77006-0_28
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-77005-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-77006-0
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)