Focal Interest
Focal Interest
AI Summary of Peer-Reviewed Research

This page presents an AI-generated summary of a published research paper. The original authors did not write or review this article. [See full disclosure ↓]

Publishing process signals: MODERATE — reflects the venue and review process. — venue and review process.

Trust and anticipation drive delight in gaming reviews

A person sits at a gaming desk in a red-lit room, facing multiple monitors displaying video game content, with a gaming controller visible and modern gaming peripherals arranged on the desk.
Research area:NeuroscienceCognitive NeuroscienceDeath Anxiety and Social Exclusion

What the study found

Hedonic and utilitarian stimuli were found to strengthen trust, and trust was linked to higher anticipation and delight. Anticipation also positively affected delight, and trust fully mediated the effects of hedonic and utilitarian stimuli on delight.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that the findings clarify the psychological mechanisms underlying delight. They also say the results offer guidance for strategically leveraging design elements to enhance engagement and build stronger consumer relationships.

What the researchers tested

The study developed and tested a stimulus–organism–response (S-O-R) model, where hedonic and utilitarian stimuli shape internal states that lead to consumer responses. It used 2,409,631 consumer reviews from a major digital gaming platform.

What worked and what didn't

Hedonic attributes and utilitarian attributes significantly strengthened trust. Trust increased both anticipation and delight, and anticipation also had a positive effect on delight. The abstract reports trust as a full mediator between the stimuli and delight; it does not report any negative effects.

What to keep in mind

The abstract does not describe specific limitations beyond noting that prior research had relied on descriptive or linear analyses. No other caveats are stated in the available summary.

Key points

  • Hedonic and utilitarian attributes strengthened trust in the gaming reviews studied.
  • Trust increased both anticipation and consumer delight.
  • Anticipation also had a positive effect on delight.
  • Trust fully mediated the effects of hedonic and utilitarian stimuli on delight.
  • The model was tested using 2,409,631 reviews from a major digital gaming platform.

Disclosure

Research title:
Trust and anticipation drive delight in gaming reviews
Authors:
Pei-Yu Chien, Christopher White
Institutions:
National Tsing Hua University, RMIT University
Publication date:
2026-03-10
DOI:
10.1007/s10660-026-10119-2
OpenAlex record:
View
AI provenance: This post was generated by OpenAI. The original authors did not write or review this post.

More posts