The development and validation of the ARI questionnaire: An instrument for measuring immersion in location-based augmented reality settings

• Published in: International journal of human-computer studies Vol. 98; pp. 24 - 37
• Main Authors: Georgiou, Yiannis, Kyza, Eleni A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2017
• Subjects: ARI questionnaire; Augmented reality; Immersion; Location-aware applications; Questionnaire development; Questionnaire development; Immersion; Location-aware applications; Augmented reality; ARI questionnaire
• ISSN: 1071-5819; 1095-9300
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2016.09.014

Location-aware Augmented Reality (AR) applications are often argued to provide users with immersive experiences that are situated in the real world. Immersion, which can be seen as a form of cognitive and emotional absorption, has been asserted to promote enjoyment, engagement in a task and even learning. However, such claims remain largely unsubstantiated due to the lack of validated instruments for measuring users’ immersion in location-based AR environments. Attempts to develop validated instruments for evaluating immersion have been few and non-systematic, while existing instruments are oriented towards measuring immersion in the context of non-AR digital games. At the same time, studies seeking to operationalize and measure immersion are still inconclusive; even though immersion is considered as a multi-level psychological construct, it is not yet clear whether there is multidimensionality in each level or not. The present study describes the development and validation of the ARI [Augmented Reality Immersion] questionnaire: an instrument for measuring immersion in AR location-aware settings. To achieve this goal, a multi-step process was employed to develop and validate a novel instrument; analyses included exploratory factor analysis with 202 high school students, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis with 162 high school students. This multi-step process resulted in a 21-item, seven-point Likert-type instrument with satisfactory construct validity, which is based on a multi-leveled model of immersion with multidimensionality in each level. We argue that the ARI questionnaire, as a validated and tested measurement, can be highly useful for researchers and designers in the field of location-based AR. •A novel questionnaire for measuring immersion in location-based AR is presented.•The ARI questionnaire has been shown to have satisfactory reliability and validity.•The data suggest a hierarchical and multi-level model of immersion.•The questionnaire can establish participants’ immersion level in location-based AR.•The ARI questionnaire can contribute to improved location-aware AR designs.