Aesthetics perception of assistive technology products and user stigma

The main objective of this study was to determine the specifics of the aesthetic perception of assistive technology products and its relationship with user stigma. Questionnaires on aesthetics and the perceptions associated with the selected stimuli (3 hearing aid models, 3 upper limb orthosis models, and 3 wheelchair models) were developed based on previous methodologies. The analysis of the data was carried out through statistical tests that allowed to verify the behavior of the aesthetic principles in Assistive Technologies, as well as the relations with the Aesthetic Pleasure. To analyze the data, multiple-item variables were calculated based on their means. After the data were tabulated, the scales were tested for reliability and normality with Cronbach's alpha and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, respectively. Friedman's ANOVA was used to verify Hypothesis 1: the aesthetic experience (aesthetic pleasure) differs depending on the stimulus (assistive technology product). Multiple linear regression was applied to verify Hypothesis 2: the principles of aesthetics (the Unified Model of Aesthetics) perceived in assistive technologies mediate aesthetic pleasure. Likewise, Friedman's ANOVA was used to verify Hypotheses 3 and 4, which are related to the measurement of stigma: (3) the stereotypes attributed to the user (stigma) differ depending on the stimulus (assistive technology product); (4) the emotions felt about the user differ depending on the stimulus (assistive technology product). Regarding the relationship between aesthetics and stigma, multiple linear regression was used to identify the instruments’ predictive capacity for stigma, which was determined through stereotypes of competence and warmth, and for emotions, which was determined through the aesthetics variables (model predictors). The positive relation between the principles of Unity and Autonomy with aesthetic pleasure stands out, on the other hand, the Variety principle has a negative relationship with it, and Typicality adds a low value to aesthetic pleasure. Likewise, the stereotypes and emotions derived from Assistive Technologies assessed by Non-users were identified. Significant differences can be highlighted between the Competence stereotypes about the individual according to the product being used, for each category. For the Wheelchair, there is also significance for the judgment of Cordiality and the emotions of Compassion and Admiration. Still, through correlational analysis, it was possible to identify the associations between the measurement of aesthetics and stigma related to Assistive Technologies. It was identified that the increase in aesthetic pleasure is related to the reduction of stigma on the part of Non-users.本研究的核心目标为明确辅助技术（Assistive Technology）产品的审美感知细节，及其与使用者污名（stigma）之间的关联。本研究基于既往研究方法，开发了针对审美感知及所选刺激物（3款助听器模型、3款上肢矫形器模型与3款轮椅模型）相关感知的问卷。数据分析通过统计检验开展，旨在验证辅助技术领域美学原则的表现特征，及其与审美愉悦（Aesthetic Pleasure）之间的关联。为开展数据分析，本研究基于变量均值计算了多项目变量。数据制表完成后，研究分别通过克朗巴哈α系数（Cronbach's alpha）与柯尔莫哥洛夫-斯米尔诺夫检验（Kolmogorov-Smirnov test）对量表的信度与正态性进行检验。本研究采用弗里德曼方差分析（Friedman's ANOVA）验证假设1：审美体验（即审美愉悦）会因刺激物（辅助技术产品）的不同而存在差异。采用多元线性回归验证假设2：辅助技术中感知到的美学原则（统一审美模型（Unified Model of Aesthetics））会对审美愉悦产生中介效应。同理，采用弗里德曼方差分析验证与污名测量相关的假设3与假设4：假设3为，针对使用者的刻板印象（污名）会因刺激物（辅助技术产品）的不同而存在差异；假设4为，对使用者产生的情绪会因刺激物（辅助技术产品）的不同而存在差异。针对审美与污名之间的关联，本研究采用多元线性回归分析工具分别针对污名与情绪的预测能力进行识别：其中污名的预测能力通过能力与热情刻板印象进行评估，情绪的预测能力则通过审美变量（模型预测因子）进行评估。研究结果显示，统一性（Unity）与自主性（Autonomy）原则与审美愉悦呈显著正相关；而多样性（Variety）原则与审美愉悦呈负相关，典型性（Typicality）原则对审美愉悦的贡献度较低。此外，本研究还明确了非使用者对辅助技术所产生的刻板印象与情绪。各产品类别中，使用者所使用的产品不同时，针对个体的能力刻板印象均存在显著差异。针对轮椅产品而言，在亲切度（Cordiality）判断以及同情（Compassion）与钦佩（Admiration）情绪方面同样存在显著差异。此外，通过相关分析，本研究明确了辅助技术相关审美测量与污名测量之间的关联。研究发现，审美愉悦程度的提升与非使用者所感知到的污名程度降低呈显著相关。