Multiple-agent promotion in a grocery store: effects of modality and variability of agents on customer memory

The use of social robots for product advertising is becoming prevalent. Previous studies have demonstrated that social robots can positively impact ad hoc sales recommendations. However, the essential question of “how effectively customers remember the advertised content” remains unexplored. To addr...

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Main Authors: Takato Mizuho, Yuki Okafuji, Jun Baba, Takuji Narumi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Robotics and AI
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frobt.2024.1397230/full
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author Takato Mizuho
Takato Mizuho
Yuki Okafuji
Yuki Okafuji
Jun Baba
Jun Baba
Takuji Narumi
author_facet Takato Mizuho
Takato Mizuho
Yuki Okafuji
Yuki Okafuji
Jun Baba
Jun Baba
Takuji Narumi
author_sort Takato Mizuho
collection DOAJ
description The use of social robots for product advertising is becoming prevalent. Previous studies have demonstrated that social robots can positively impact ad hoc sales recommendations. However, the essential question of “how effectively customers remember the advertised content” remains unexplored. To address this gap, we conducted a field study where physical robots or virtual agents were stationed at two locations within a grocery store for product promotion. Based on prior research, we hypothesized that customers would exhibit better recall of promotional content when it is heard from different agents rather than the same agent. Moreover, we posited that customers would exhibit more favorable social attitudes toward physical robots than virtual agents, resulting in enhanced recall. The results did not support our hypotheses, as no significant differences were observed between the conditions. However, when the physical robot was used, we observed a significant positive correlation between subjective ratings such as social presence and recall performance. This trend was not evident when the virtual agent was used. This study is a stepping stone for future research evaluating agent-based product promotion in terms of customer memory.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2296-9144
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series Frontiers in Robotics and AI
spelling doaj-art-abbeebdcb35f481fb248fd9987aa0e112024-12-05T05:10:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Robotics and AI2296-91442024-12-011110.3389/frobt.2024.13972301397230Multiple-agent promotion in a grocery store: effects of modality and variability of agents on customer memoryTakato Mizuho0Takato Mizuho1Yuki Okafuji2Yuki Okafuji3Jun Baba4Jun Baba5Takuji Narumi6AI Lab, CyberAgent, Tokyo, JapanGraduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanAI Lab, CyberAgent, Tokyo, JapanGraduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Osaka, JapanAI Lab, CyberAgent, Tokyo, JapanGraduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Osaka, JapanGraduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanThe use of social robots for product advertising is becoming prevalent. Previous studies have demonstrated that social robots can positively impact ad hoc sales recommendations. However, the essential question of “how effectively customers remember the advertised content” remains unexplored. To address this gap, we conducted a field study where physical robots or virtual agents were stationed at two locations within a grocery store for product promotion. Based on prior research, we hypothesized that customers would exhibit better recall of promotional content when it is heard from different agents rather than the same agent. Moreover, we posited that customers would exhibit more favorable social attitudes toward physical robots than virtual agents, resulting in enhanced recall. The results did not support our hypotheses, as no significant differences were observed between the conditions. However, when the physical robot was used, we observed a significant positive correlation between subjective ratings such as social presence and recall performance. This trend was not evident when the virtual agent was used. This study is a stepping stone for future research evaluating agent-based product promotion in terms of customer memory.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frobt.2024.1397230/fullsocial robotvirtual agentmultiple-context effectsocial presencememoryfield study
spellingShingle Takato Mizuho
Takato Mizuho
Yuki Okafuji
Yuki Okafuji
Jun Baba
Jun Baba
Takuji Narumi
Multiple-agent promotion in a grocery store: effects of modality and variability of agents on customer memory
Frontiers in Robotics and AI
social robot
virtual agent
multiple-context effect
social presence
memory
field study
title Multiple-agent promotion in a grocery store: effects of modality and variability of agents on customer memory
title_full Multiple-agent promotion in a grocery store: effects of modality and variability of agents on customer memory
title_fullStr Multiple-agent promotion in a grocery store: effects of modality and variability of agents on customer memory
title_full_unstemmed Multiple-agent promotion in a grocery store: effects of modality and variability of agents on customer memory
title_short Multiple-agent promotion in a grocery store: effects of modality and variability of agents on customer memory
title_sort multiple agent promotion in a grocery store effects of modality and variability of agents on customer memory
topic social robot
virtual agent
multiple-context effect
social presence
memory
field study
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frobt.2024.1397230/full
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