First Advisor
Liming Wang
Term of Graduation
January 2026
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Language
English
Subjects
AV: Autonomous Vehicle, Older Individual, SAV: Shared Autonomous Vehicle, SEM: Structural Equation Modeling, Survey, TAM: Technology Acceptance Model
Physical Description
1 online resource ( pages)
Abstract
The fast development of autonomous vehicle systems will create major changes inhow people move around. Previous research shows that these technologies can benefit older people who struggle with mobility, safety and access to transportation. Shared Autonomous Vehicles (SAVs) enable older people to achieve self-reliance while obtaining essential services which enhance their quality of living. The successful deployment of SAVs requires users to accept this new technology which they must also be willing to use. This research study investigates which elements affect older adults to adopt SAVs by using an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework. The research design of this study combines a mixed-methods approach which uses survey data quantitatively and thematic analysis qualitatively to understand how older adults view SAVs. Data was collected through a structured survey targeting individuals aged 50 and older, capturing demographic characteristics, current travel behavior, technology familiarity, and attitudes toward SAVs. The quantitative section employs Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to verify the proposed connections between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, cost and time sensitivity, social influence, attitude and behavioral intention. The qualitative analysis confirmed the statistical results by exploring participants’ concerns, expectations, and perceived benefits related to SAV adoption. The research results indicate that older adults develop positive opinions about SAVs because they find these vehicles to be practical and easy to use. Attitude toward SAVs is
found to be a strong and significant predictor of behavioral intention to use thetechnology when it becomes available. Social influence together with cost sensitivity helps people develop their attitudes through their perceptions of technology affordability and their desire for peer approval and trust in technology. The research findings from qualitative analysis support these results because older adults establish SAV adoption based on their safety assessments, their experience with system operation and their need to enhance their mobility. This research contributes to the limited empirical literature on autonomous mobility adoption among older populations and extends the application of TAM within the context of shared autonomous transportation. The research findings establish a critical direction for policymakers, transportation planners and technology developers to determine which elements they need to concentrate on for achieving sustainable SAV services for all users. The research data reveals three primary research obstacles which result from inadequate participation, a limited study area, and ongoing advancements in SAV technology systems. This research also indicates limitations related to sample size, geographic scope, and the evolving nature of SAV technologies, and proposes directions for future research to further investigate longitudinal adoption patterns and real-world SAV implementation.
Rights
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Recommended Citation
Urbina, Sara Sohaee, "Acceptance of Shared Autonomous Vehicles: Exploring the Attitudes and Perspectives of Older Adults" (2026). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 7141.