TEHNOLOOGIA KASUTAMISE KAVATSUST MÕJUTAVATE FAKTORITE ANALÜÜS KAITSEVÄE PEASTAABI, MAAVÄE JA KAITSEVÄE AKADEEMIA OHVITSERIDE JA KADETTIDE NÄITEL

AN ANALYSIS OF FACTORS THAT IMPACT THE WILL OF OFFICERS AND CADETS FROM THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE DEFENSE FORCES, THE LAND FORCES, AND THE MILITARY ACADEMY TO USE TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the primary factors that impact the will of officers and cadets to use unmanned ground robots and to analyse the applicability of the technology acceptance model for describing such will. The theoretical part provides an overview of the technology acceptance model, a perceived risk, the intention of use, and a tendency to trust technology. Data was collected with an online survey that included scales to assess the perception of the respondents regarding usefulness, the ease of use, the potential risk, the propensity to trust technology, and the will to use unmanned ground robots. The target group for the questionnaire comprised the officers and cadets (N=702) serving in the Land Forces, the General Staff, and the Estonian Military Academy; 49% of the target group (N=344) responded to the survey. The results of the online survey were analysed with correlation analysis method, regression analysis, and structural equation modelling. According to the results, the TAM model is suitable for researching the technology of unmanned ground robots. An analysis conducted with structural equation modelling revealed that 48% of the diversity in the will to use unmanned ground robots derives from perceived usefulness, the age of users, trust in technology, and perceived ease of use. From a statistical viewpoint, perceived risk has a significant mediating impact on the will to use robots if such use is considered easy.