This paper offers an exploratory review of acceptance and acceptability as it develops a schematic overview highlighting the varied overarching interpretations of these concepts: the “funnel of acceptance and acceptability”.
Long abstract:
With the increasing reliance on technological advancements, it becomes imperative to critically examine and evaluate their implications on society and the environment. The concepts of acceptance and acceptability have gained prominence among researchers shaping technology implementation strategies. Especially in research fields such as the social sciences, ethics of technology and innovation sciences, the importance of the concepts is rising. However, the lack of precise definitions for these concepts leads to diverse interpretations, compromising their usefulness in technology development and impeding further progress in research endeavours. This paper offers an exploratory review of these essential concepts and develops a schematic overview highlighting the varied overarching interpretations of these concepts: the “funnel of acceptance and acceptability”. It illustrates how different research levels – institutional, societal, and individual – dictate the relevant interpretation of these concepts. The funnel metaphor emphasises the interconnectedness of these interpretations and underscores the importance of equally addressing all research levels to ensure technology implementation processes advance in a desirable and responsible manner.