Graduation Year
2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.A.
Degree Name
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Degree Granting Department
Psychology
Major Professor
Georgia Chao, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Daniel Griffin, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Paul Atchley, Ph.D.
Keywords
computational models, formal theory, process research, simulations, technology adaptation
Abstract
Technology implementation is a common occurrence in organizations to which workers must adapt. Although research on workers' technology acceptance is widely spread, research on the workers' technology adaptation process is less represented in the literature. The discrepancy in the literature permeates research on new technologies currently being implemented in organizations, such as occupational exoskeletons. As in other technologies, the variance research perspective dominates the literature on exoskeleton implementations. The current thesis aims to foster process research by formalizing the coping model of user adaptation (Beaudry & Pinsonneault, 2005) and exploring research questions regarding workers' adaptation to general technology and exoskeletons. The formal theory was organized into a computational model that simulated possible worker adaptation patterns to exoskeletons. The simulations focused on adaptive behaviors and on the appraisal of workers who wear exoskeletons. The simulations demonstrated that there are four major patterns of adaptive behaviors and appraisal of exoskeletons: overshooting, undershooting, steady increase, and steady decrease. Also, the simulations demonstrated that current practices of longitudinal data collection may fail to capture these patterns accurately and that it is possible to more precisely identify key moments in one's adaptation using such mathematical descriptions of the phenomenon. In sum, the current thesis contributes to the literature by formalizing the adaptation process into a computational model, which can be modified to encapsulate characteristics of different technologies. Also, the model can be used to better estimate data-collection points in longitudinal research studies and to inform predictive analytics for possible organizational interventions in applied settings. Future research should work in validating, updating, and integrating new information into the current model and formalizations.
Scholar Commons Citation
Novi Migliano, Enzo, "A System Dynamics Perspective of User Adaptation: The Case of Exoskeleton Technology" (2026). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/11373
