HRPYC81
Project 5 Assignment 3 2025
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Unique number:
Due Date: 2025
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
UNDERSTANDING TRUST IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: THE ROLE OF
PERSONALITY AND AI ANXIETY IN SHAPING ATTITUDES TOWARDS AI
APPLICATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
1. INTRODUCTION
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in everyday decision-making—from job recruitment
algorithms and autonomous vehicles to mental health diagnostics—has led to growing
concerns about how people perceive and trust these technologies. Understanding
human attitudes toward AI is crucial, especially as AI increasingly impacts areas
involving moral and ethical judgement (Choung et al., 2024; Zhang et al., 2022).
Although AI systems can enhance efficiency and objectivity, public scepticism and
emotional resistance remain persistent barriers to their widespread acceptance (Glikson
& Woolley, 2020).
Terms of use
In the South By making use of
African context, these concerns are further amplified by socio-economicthis document you agree to:
Use this document as a guide for learning, comparison and reference purpose,
Terms of use
Not to duplicate, reproduce and/or misrepresent the contents of this document as your own work,
By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document
Fully accept the consequences
solely as a guide forshould you plagiarise
learning, reference,or and
misuse this document.
comparison purposes,
Ensure originality of your own work, and fully accept the consequences should you plagiarise or misuse this document.
Comply with all relevant standards, guidelines, regulations, and legislation governing academic and written work.
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is" without any express or
implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or liability for any actions taken based on the
information contained within this document. This document is intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes.
Reproduction, resale, or transmission of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
, +27 67 171 1739
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
UNDERSTANDING TRUST IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: THE ROLE OF
PERSONALITY AND AI ANXIETY IN SHAPING ATTITUDES TOWARDS AI
APPLICATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
1. INTRODUCTION
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in everyday decision-making—from job
recruitment algorithms and autonomous vehicles to mental health diagnostics—has
led to growing concerns about how people perceive and trust these technologies.
Understanding human attitudes toward AI is crucial, especially as AI increasingly
impacts areas involving moral and ethical judgement (Choung et al., 2024; Zhang et
al., 2022). Although AI systems can enhance efficiency and objectivity, public
scepticism and emotional resistance remain persistent barriers to their widespread
acceptance (Glikson & Woolley, 2020).
In the South African context, these concerns are further amplified by socio-economic
disparities, historical distrust in technology, and varying degrees of digital literacy. As
AI begins to enter public and private sectors in South Africa, it becomes important to
examine how local populations respond to these changes. Studying attitudes toward
AI in this context can provide insight into adoption barriers, inform ethical policy
development, and help tailor interventions that build public trust.
This research investigates how personality traits and AI-related anxiety influence
attitudes towards AI applications. It aims to explore the psychological foundations
that shape trust or mistrust in AI, specifically within three application areas:
autonomous vehicles, job recruitment, and mental health support systems. These
relationships will be explored through a cross-sectional survey and analysed
statistically to test the proposed hypotheses.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction to the Behaviour: Attitudes Towards AI Applications
The increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in decision-making—ranging from
health care and mental health interventions to autonomous vehicles and
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is"
without any express or implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or
liability for any actions taken based on the information contained within this document. This document is
intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes. Reproduction, resale, or transmission
of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
Project 5 Assignment 3 2025
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Unique number:
Due Date: 2025
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
UNDERSTANDING TRUST IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: THE ROLE OF
PERSONALITY AND AI ANXIETY IN SHAPING ATTITUDES TOWARDS AI
APPLICATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
1. INTRODUCTION
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in everyday decision-making—from job recruitment
algorithms and autonomous vehicles to mental health diagnostics—has led to growing
concerns about how people perceive and trust these technologies. Understanding
human attitudes toward AI is crucial, especially as AI increasingly impacts areas
involving moral and ethical judgement (Choung et al., 2024; Zhang et al., 2022).
Although AI systems can enhance efficiency and objectivity, public scepticism and
emotional resistance remain persistent barriers to their widespread acceptance (Glikson
& Woolley, 2020).
Terms of use
In the South By making use of
African context, these concerns are further amplified by socio-economicthis document you agree to:
Use this document as a guide for learning, comparison and reference purpose,
Terms of use
Not to duplicate, reproduce and/or misrepresent the contents of this document as your own work,
By making use of this document you agree to:
Use this document
Fully accept the consequences
solely as a guide forshould you plagiarise
learning, reference,or and
misuse this document.
comparison purposes,
Ensure originality of your own work, and fully accept the consequences should you plagiarise or misuse this document.
Comply with all relevant standards, guidelines, regulations, and legislation governing academic and written work.
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is" without any express or
implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or liability for any actions taken based on the
information contained within this document. This document is intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes.
Reproduction, resale, or transmission of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
, +27 67 171 1739
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
UNDERSTANDING TRUST IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: THE ROLE OF
PERSONALITY AND AI ANXIETY IN SHAPING ATTITUDES TOWARDS AI
APPLICATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
1. INTRODUCTION
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in everyday decision-making—from job
recruitment algorithms and autonomous vehicles to mental health diagnostics—has
led to growing concerns about how people perceive and trust these technologies.
Understanding human attitudes toward AI is crucial, especially as AI increasingly
impacts areas involving moral and ethical judgement (Choung et al., 2024; Zhang et
al., 2022). Although AI systems can enhance efficiency and objectivity, public
scepticism and emotional resistance remain persistent barriers to their widespread
acceptance (Glikson & Woolley, 2020).
In the South African context, these concerns are further amplified by socio-economic
disparities, historical distrust in technology, and varying degrees of digital literacy. As
AI begins to enter public and private sectors in South Africa, it becomes important to
examine how local populations respond to these changes. Studying attitudes toward
AI in this context can provide insight into adoption barriers, inform ethical policy
development, and help tailor interventions that build public trust.
This research investigates how personality traits and AI-related anxiety influence
attitudes towards AI applications. It aims to explore the psychological foundations
that shape trust or mistrust in AI, specifically within three application areas:
autonomous vehicles, job recruitment, and mental health support systems. These
relationships will be explored through a cross-sectional survey and analysed
statistically to test the proposed hypotheses.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction to the Behaviour: Attitudes Towards AI Applications
The increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in decision-making—ranging from
health care and mental health interventions to autonomous vehicles and
Disclaimer
Great care has been taken in the preparation of this document; however, the contents are provided "as is"
without any express or implied representations or warranties. The author accepts no responsibility or
liability for any actions taken based on the information contained within this document. This document is
intended solely for comparison, research, and reference purposes. Reproduction, resale, or transmission
of any part of this document, in any form or by any means, is strictly prohibited.
