Impact of Passengers' Psychological Distance on Attitudes Toward Train Service Innovations
Impact of Passengers' Psychological Distance on Attitudes Toward Train Service Innovations
김경진, 임윤정
초록
Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of psychological distance on passengers’ acceptance of innovative railway services. It focuses on understanding how temporal and social distances influence creativity and attitudes, enhancing openness to innovation while reducing resistance. Research design, data and methodology: The study conducted three experimental studies using a factorial design. Study 1 explored the effects of temporal distance (long vs. short travel time) on innovation acceptance. Study 2 investigated the role of social distance (socially distant vs. close crew members) in influencing attitudes. Study 3 examined whether these effects are moderated by cognitive effort, using cognitive depletion as a condition. Data were collected from university students, and participants’ attitudes and creativity were measured using validated scales. Results: Study 1 revealed that long-distance travel increases creativity and fosters acceptance of innovative services. Study 2 demonstrated that passengers guided by socially distant crew members were more open to innovation. Study 3 confirmed that the process is heuristic, as the results remained unaffected by cognitive depletion, indicating that these effects do not rely on cognitive resources. Conclusions: The findings suggest that psychological distance enhances innovation acceptance by promoting creativity. Practical implications include tailoring innovative services for long-distance travel and leveraging social distance to foster receptiveness. This research contributes to both theoretical understanding and practical strategies for innovation in the railway industry.