Intention to Adopt Digital Games for Safety Training in Young Farm Operators: The Role of Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness, and Game Design Characteristics

Abstract

The development of digital games has proven particularly fruitful for the introduction of new forms of occupational safety training in various work sectors, but less is known about their use in sectors as hazardous as agriculture. In this study, we used a path model to analyze the triggers for the intention to use digital games as a safety training method in a group of young agricultural operators. A questionnaire was used to investigate participants’ intention to use games as safety training tools, perception of usefulness, perception of specific game design characteristics, and perceived ease of use. Game design characteristics and perceived ease of use were positively associated with perceived usefulness, which, in turn, was positively related to the intention to use digital games. These results provided some insights into the most critical variables that can be influenced to increase young farmers’ intention to use digital games for effective safety training.

Keywords:

• Games in education
• safety training
• agricultural workers’ perception
• young workers

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Professor Mario Tamagnone, Professor Riccardo Scalenghe and Professor Domenico Pessina at the Departments of Agricultural Sciences throughout Italy who supported the study through the recruitment and involvement of their students.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data will be made available on request.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Lucia Vigoroso

Lucia Vigoroso is a PhD student at Roma Tre University. Her PhD program deals with the design of innovative and usable tools for health and safety training in hazardous sectors.

Michele Roccato

Michele Roccato is a full professor in social psychology at the University of Torino, Italy. At present, his main research interests concern political psychology and quantitative research methodology.

Eugenio Cavallo

Eugenio Cavallo is researcher at the Institute of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Energy and Mobility of the National Research Council of Italy. His research focuses on developing and implementing technologies and solutions to enhance the sustainability of the agroforestry systems.

Federica Caffaro

Federica Caffaro is an associate professor in work and organizational psychology at the University of Roma Tre. Her main research interests include workplace ergonomics, occupational safety and health and human development.