Adoption of augmented reality in online retailing and consumers’ product attitude: A cognitive perspective

Abstract With the application of augmented reality (AR) technology by online retailers to improve online services, the impact of AR adoption on consumer behavior has attracted attention both in academic and in practical circles. Based on the cognitive perspective of information processing and from the two aspects of cognitive load and cognitive fluency, this study discusses the influence of AR adoption on online consumers' product attitudes. The results of the experimental study show that two AR characteristics—environmental embedding and simulated physical control—can reduce consumers’ cognitive load, enhance their cognitive fluency, and improve their product attitude. Furthermore, product type can moderate the influence of AR environmental embedding and simulated physical control on cognitive fluency.