A Conceptual Framework for the Acceptance of Drones

The literature on the public acceptance of unmanned aircraft, aka drones, is scarce and undeveloped. This is evident in the absence of theoretical and methodological substantiality in existing research. This research paper suggests a conceptual model for predicting the public acceptance of unmanned aircraft. This was accomplished by systematically reviewing previous literature on the public acceptance of genetically modified food and nuclear energy. Results of the review revealed that behavioral models such as TRA and TAM, when include concepts from risk theory, can provide the desired model. The model consists of five constructs namely: intention to purchase/use, attitudes towards using, perceived benefit, perceived risk, and perceived control. Future research is required to further develop the proposed model relevant for the context of drones' acceptance.